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SOUTH DAKOTA 


A 

REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


J BY 

WILLIS Er JOHNSON, M. 


A. 


AUTHOR OP “THE STATE AND NATION” AND “A MATHEMATICAL GEOGRAPHY,” 
PRESIDENT OF THE NORTHERN NORMAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
SCHOOL, ABERDEEN, SOUTH DAKOTA 


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3 > * 


5 


PUBLISHED BY 

THE CAPITAL SUPPLY COMPANY 

PIERRE, SOUTH DAKOTA 

c /9/7 



Rsi 
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Ceps' ^ 


Copyright, 1911, 1912, 1915, 1917 

BY 

WILLIS E. JOHNSON 


l lu. jn r.HLD mm 
COf iiii4HT CtffWf 

,h 

.) * 


APR -9 1918 


ROBERT O. LAW COMPANY 

EDITION BOOK MANUFACTURERS 
CHICAGO. U S A. 


PREFACE 


Much of the material appearing in this book was in¬ 
cluded in the larger volume bearing the same title, the 
first edition of which appeared in 1911. The subject mat¬ 
ter has been quite largely rewritten to adapt it to the com¬ 
prehension of sixth grade children. Considerable infor¬ 
mation has also been included so that the book may 
answer the requirements for teachers’ examinations in 
South Dakota history and to make it a handbook on the 
geography of the state. 

Among the devices which make for social solidarity 
the slogan of the group plays an important part. “Ameri¬ 
can blood has been shed upon American soil,” “England 
expects every man to do his duty,” “Honest money,” 
“The cross of gold,” have been party or martial mottoes 
that have united and inspired to group patriotism and 
action. Can we not consciously apply these simple prin¬ 
ciples of social psychology to more lasting social benefit? 
Will not the children of this state receive an uplift if they 
repeat over and over, “South Dakota, a Republic of 
Friends,” “South Dakota, the Sunshine State,” “Under 
God the People Rule” ? The state song, composed for the 
children of South Dakota, sets these slogans to a simple 
and easily learned melody and it cannot be sung too often 
or too heartily. 

The word “Dakota” means “A Republic of Friends.” 
Will it not become more and more such a republic in fact 
if the children are taught over and over what that name 
signifies? When Dakota Indians meet they greet each 
other in soft accents, “Ko-dah,” or “Ko-lah,” that is, 
“Friend.” They proudly call themselves “Dah-ko-tahs.” 

5 


6 


SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


No more honest and upright class of primitive people ever 
were found, and none, when educated, show more splen¬ 
did intellect and character. May not the minds and hearts 
of the latest Dakota children be inspired by such whole¬ 
some and pleasing sentiments in association with their 
common name? When alone and lonely in the midst of a 
great busy city, the author was once pleasantly accosted 
by a stranger, who, recognizing the writer and extending 
a cordial hand, with a smile said, “Dah-ko-tah.” It was a 
pleasing, heart-warming greeting. What's in a name? 
Why, whatever meaning we put into that name. May the 
teachers of this great state help the children to make 
Dakota in reality what it is in name, a republic of friends. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER PAGE 

I Introduction . 9 

II Surface Features. 17 

III Preparation for Man. 21 

IV Early Indian Inhabitants. 25 

V The Coming of White Men. 30 

VI The Louisiana Purchase. 32 

VII The Lewis and Clark Journey. 37 

VIII Early Conflicts with the Indians. 42 

IX Permanent Settlement. 46 

X The Rees Expelled. 48 

XI Missionaries — Famous Travelers.. 51 

XII Territorial Changes. .. 54 

XIII The Overland Trail and Indian Troubles. 58 

XIV A Territory in Name Only. 60 

XV More Hostile Indians. 63 

XVI Successful Settlements. 66 

XVII Early Government. 69 

XVIII The Civil War. 72 

XIX A Steady Growth. 75 

XX The Black Hills War. 78 

XXI The Dakota Boom. 84 

XXII Division and Statehood. 88 

XXIII Hard Times and Indian Troubles. 93 

XXIV Later Development. 98 

XXV South Dakota Today.. 105 

XXVI Dakota’s Wonderland. 112 

XXVII Bad for Traveling Lands. 117 

XXVIII Climate. 120 

Appendix ..... 131 































Springfield, Illinois, 
April 5, 1911. 


Professor Willis E. Johnson, 

Northern Normal and Industrial School, 

Aberdeen, South Dakota. 

My dear Sir: 

Half a century ago I was sent by President 
Abraham Lincoln to organize the territorial government 
of Dakota, which then comprised a vast extent out of 
which four states have been created. These states, by 
reason of their healthfulness, material prosperity, 
general intelligence, and educational advantages, take 
equal rank with the most favored states of the whole 
Union. 

After travelling over the vast prairies of that 
land, which had been marked in school maps as the "Great 
American Desert," I thought I could sec what wae to be in 
the future, as the white settler came to make a home and 
build a great civilization in the place to be left by the 
retreating footsteps of the Indian and buffalo. 

To the boy8 and girls oi your great common¬ 
wealth I wish to extend my congratulations upon their 
having homes in a land of freedom and plenty. May they 
be inspired by the sacrifices which others have made for 
their welfare; may they be grateful to almighty God for 
their abundant blessings; and may they grow up to be 
citizens who are worthy of such a country and such a 
civilization, 

"South Dakota, A Republic of Friends.'" Surely 
this is an inspiring name for a book for these young 
people. After fifty years of watching the growth of your 
territory and state, I wish to say that my last wish for 
her will be that she may soon become what her name 
signifies, "a republic of friends ." 





SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC 
OF FRIENDS 


CHAPTER I 

INTRODUCTION 

The Dakotas. When white men came out to the plains 
now included within our state they found several bands of 
Indians who called themselves “the Dakotas.” There are 
several thousand Dakota Indians still living here, nearly 
all on reservations. When one of these Indians meets a 
white man he usually salutes him by saying, “How, 
Kola.” The word Kola or Koda means friend. Trans¬ 
lated, then, their greeting is, “How are you, friend?” 

The word “Da-kota” thus comes from a word meaning 
friend, and means a brotherhood^ an alliance, or, as some 
prefer to call it,.a republic of friends. 

There were seven of these Dakota tribes, some having a 
number of smaller bands or groups. Occasionally chiefs 
or leaders from different tribes would meet and talk over 
their common interests. While they had no elections 
or government such as we have, there is a sense in which 
we may say they were what their name implies, a repub¬ 
lic of friends. 

What a splendid name for our state. May every boy 
and girl in our schools say, “I belong to Dakota, a republic 
of friends” 

Under God the People Rule. This is the motto of the 
state of South Dakota. It appears on the great seal of 
the state. Although the people select their officers and 

9 


10 SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 

make their own laws, we all know there is a Power in the 
world which is mightier than that of man. The people 
should regulate their affairs as in the presence of God. 

In former times governments were not carried on by 
the people or for the people. Even in our own country 
today it is sometimes difficult or impossible to get good 
laws or to have them enforced because of the influence 
of some private or selfish interest. Our state motto 
should inspire us to make our government more and 
more consecrated to the highest good of all. 

State Seal. It was the custom in ancient times for 
kings, noblemen, and other people to use seals* or signets 
with which they made imprints upon letters and impor¬ 
tant papers and documents. This custom still prevails 
in a number of ways. Each state has what is called the 
“Great Seal,”'which is affixed to certain state documents 
by an officerf at the state capitol building. Upon the seal 
appears the state motto, the representation of the smelt¬ 
ing furnace of a mine, a herd of cattle, a field of corn, a 
steamboat on a river, a man plowing, and a range of hills. 
See if you can find these in the print of the state seal 
under the South Dakota song. 

Seal of the United States. On July 4 , 1776 , immedi¬ 
ately after the Declaration of Independence was adopted, 
John Hancock, president of the congress, arose and said: 
“We are now a nation, and I appoint Benjamin Frank¬ 
lin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson a committee to 
prepare a device for a Great Seal of the United States 
of America.” It was not until 1782 , however, that the 
present seal was adopted. 

♦Read in the story of Jezebel (see I Kings, 21, 8) how she used the King’s 
seal to carry out her plans, also in the story of Daniel (see Daniel 6 17) 
how the lion’s den was sealed with the king’s signet and also the signets 
of the lords. (See also Matthew, 27, 66.) Ask a notary public to show 
you his seal and tell you about its use. Find out from a railway station 
agent how box cars are sealed and the penalty for unlawful breaking of the 
seal. 

fThe Secretary of State. 


INTRODUCTION 


11 


It consists of the American bald eagle within a circle. In his beak 
is a scroll bearing the motto “E Pluribus Unum,” meaning “Out 
of Many, One,” and signifying “One Republic made out of Many 
Republics. * ’ On the breast of the eagle is a shield made up of a blue 
band above, with thirteen stripes below, seven red and six white. The 
band represents the federal government which binds together the states. 
The right talon, is grasping an olive branch symbolizing Peace, and 
the left holds thirteen arrows, symbolizing War. Over the head of the 
eagle is a “breaking through a cloud,” revealing a constellation of 
thirteen states. The shield ‘ 1 is borne on the breast of the American 
Eagle, without any other support, to denote that the United States of 
America ought to rely on their own virtues . 9 ’ A reverse side was also 
provided for but it has never been used. 



United States Seal 

/ 

The Sunshine State. South Dakota is called “The 
Sunshine State.” The amount of sunshine we receive is 
greater than that in most of the states in the best farming 
regU is. The sunshine is of great value in hastening the 
growth of crops in the summer and in conserving health. 

Health. “To health and wealth the open door.” Ac¬ 
cording to the United States Census Bureau, South 
Dakota has had for years the lowest death rate of the 
states of the Union that have an accepted system of 
preserving health statistics. 



















12 


SOUTH DAKOTA. A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


A few statistics from the Census Bureau may be interesting. The 
total number of deaths, for every 1,000 persons, is given as follows: 
South Dakota, 8.8 in 1906; 9.8 in 1907; 10.1 in 1908. 

United States, 16.1 in 1906; 16.4 in 1907; 15.3 in 1908. 

For a series of years the average of the United States was 16.3; 
England, 16; France, 19.6; Germany, 19.9; Italy, 21.9; Austria, 24.2. 
The death rate for South Dakota is not only the lowest in the United 
States but the lowest in the world, the nearest being New Zealand, 
9.9 deaths per thousand of population. One should be careful, how¬ 
ever, in drawing conclusions as to healthfulness from the death rate. 
The state having the highest death rate in this country is often Cali¬ 
fornia, but this is largely due to the great numbers of sick people who 
go there for their health. 


The healthfulness of the state is accounted for in 
various ways. The purity and dryness of the air has 
much to do with it; the sunshine has a great value as a 
disease destroyer; the fact that the people, as a rule, are 
well to do and have an abundance of the best of food, 
comfortable shelter and means for travel, rest and phy¬ 
sicians’ services must be remembered; the purity of the 
drinking water, particularly the artesian water, is greatly 
emphasized by scientists as one of the causes, because 
the germs of typhoid, malaria, or other diseases are never 
found in our artesian water. 

Wealth. For many years statistics have shown that 
there was more wealth owned and produced in South 
Dakota, in proportion to population, than in almost any 
other state. When we consider that there are millions 
of acres of rich farming land in this state and enough 
food products are raised each year to feed the entire popu¬ 
lation of Illinois, but that we have only about one-fourth 
of the population of one of her cities, Chicago, we then 
can appreciate why we have so large a production accord¬ 
ing to population. To this must be added the fact that 
South Dakota ranks fourth in the production of gold; 
one mine, the famous Homestake mine at Lead, produces 
nearly one-twelfth of all the gold mined in the United 
States each year. 


INTRODUCTION 


13 


With an average of over four hundred acres of land for 
every family in the state, having ability to support in 
comfort several times the present population, South Da¬ 
kota certainly deserves the title, “Land of Plenty/’ The 
boys and girls of this favored state have a splendid heri¬ 
tage. May they use their opportunities to develop a 
corresponding wealth of manhood and womanhood! 

State Flower. The Pasque Flower is the state flower. 
It is found growing wild' over the north central states, 
extending from Illinois to the great plains. A variety of 
the plant is found in northern Europe, growing wild and 
also cultivated in gardens. It received its name in France 
because it blossoms there at about Easter time, the word 
pasque (in modern French it is “paque”) meaning Easter. 
As it is the first flower to blossom on our prairies, the 
motto accompanying the flower is “I Lead ” 

State Flag. In 1909 the legislature of South Dakota 
adopted a state flag, describing it as follows: 

11 The state flag, or banner, of South Dakota shall consist of a field 
of blue one and two-thirds as long as it is wide, in the center of which 
shall be a blazing sun in gold two-fifths as wide in diameter as the 
width of the flag. Above the sun shall be arranged in the arc of a 
circle, in gold letters, the words ‘ South Dakota/ and below the sun 
in the arc of a circle shall be arranged the words, in gold letters, 
‘The Sunshine State/ and on the reverse of the blazing sun shall 
be printed in dark blue the great seal of the state of South Dakota. 
The edges of the flag shall be trimmed with a fringe of gold to be in 
proportion to the width 4 of the flag. The staff shall be surmounted 
with a spear head, to which shall be attached cord and tassels of suit¬ 
able length and size . 1 *—Session Laws, 1909. 

Old Glory. While we love our state and all its bless¬ 
ings, there is no glow of patriotism like that which wells 
up in our hearts when we salute “Old Glory,” as we 
fondly call our national flag. The thirteen stripes sym¬ 
bolize the thirteen original states which united to form 
this nation. There is one star for each state. On the 
fourth of July following the admission of a new state an 
additional star is added to the flag. 


THE PASQUE FLOWER. 


“While wasting snowdrifts, lingering, enshroud, 

You, smiling, cheer the chill, despondent field ; 
Unerringly to prophesy the proud 

And gorgeous beauties that the summers yield. 

“So, South Dakota, be it thine to lead; 

Thy smile to light affliction’s dreary time, 

While o’er the drifts you scatter wisdom’s seed, 

And harvest glory in the season’s prime.” 

—Doane Robinson. 


INTRODUCTION 


15 


“Your flag and my flag and Oh, how much it holds 
Your land and my land safe within its folds. 

Your heart and my heart beat quicker at the sight, 

Sun kissed and wind tossed, the Red and Blue and White. 
The one flag—the great flag, the flag for me and you, 
Glorified all else beside the Red, and White, and Blue. ’ ’ 

A FLAG SALUTE .—The flag salute, which is used in most schools 
of this country, is given as follows: At a signal from the teacher 
every pupil stands erect and faces the flag, which is usually draped on 
the wall back of the teacher’s desk. At another signal, generally made 



Flag Salute 


by raising the hand, the military salute is given by the pupils. This 
is made by lifting the right hand, palm downward, the forefinger 
touching the forehead above the eye. Standing thus, all repeat to¬ 
gether slowly: 







16 


SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


“We give our heads and our hearts to our country; one country, 
one language, one flag. ’ y 

At the words, * 1 our hearts, ’ ’ the right hand is placed over the heart, 
then placed at the side. At the words, 11 one flag, ’ ’ the right hand is 
extended gracefully, palm upward, toward the flag, all eyes being 
directed toward it. 

Another flag salute is given as follows: “I pledge allegiance to 
my flag and the Kepublic for which it stands; one nation, indivisible, 
with liberty and justice for all . ,f At the words, “to my flag,” the 
hand is extended toward the flag and remains in this position until 
the end. 

A pleasing variation is made sometimes by giving the “silent 
salute. ’ ’ The pupils form in a line, or in two lines, facing each other. 
The flag is then carried in front of the line, or between the lines, and 
the hands remain at salute until the flag has been placed in its position, 
when, at a signal from the teacher, every hand is dropped. 

ETIQUET OF THE FLAG .—The flag should not be hoisted before 
sunrise nor be allowed to remain up after sunset. It should never be 
displayed with the union (field of blue) down. It should not be dis¬ 
played on stormy days. 

When the national and state or other flags fly together, the national 
flag should be on the right or above. 

When the flag is used as a banner, the union should fly to the north 
in streets running east and west, and to the east in streets running 
north and south. 

The flag should not be used as a cover over a table, desk or box, or 
where anything can be set or placed upon it. 

When the flag is passing on parade, or in review, the spectator, if 
walking, should halt; if sitting, arise, stand at attention and uncover. 

On Memorial day, May 30, the national flag should be displayed at 
half-mast until noon, then hoisted to the top of the pole, where it 
remains until sunset. 


CHAPTER II 


SURFACE FEATURES 

Near the Heart of the Continent. Draw lines diago¬ 
nally across a map of North America and you will find 
that they cross at almost the exact center of South Da¬ 
kota—at Pierre, the capital. Thus we see that the Sun¬ 
shine State lies in the center of North America, near the 
heart of the continent. The Atlantic, the Pacific and the 

Gulf of Mexico are eac}i 
'about 1,300 miles distant. 
The state is situated half 
way between the equator 
and the North Pole, the 45 th 
parallel crossing the northern 
portion of the state. 

Blessed Land of Room- 
Enough. The area of South 
Dakota is 77,615 square miles 
(land 76 , 868 ; water 747 ), be¬ 
ing larger than all of the 
New England states combined 
and over one-third as large as 
France. The population av¬ 
erages about eight for each square mile. How many 
acres does this average for each man, woman and child 
in the state? The length of the state, east and west, 
averages about 370 miles and the width about 210 miles. 

Boundaries. The states surrounding South Dakota are 
17 




18 


SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


shown on page 19 . Name them. The boundary lines are 
also shown. Be able to name all of them. 

Land of Fertile Plain and Prairie. The surface, for the 
most part, is a gently rolling prairie. It rises from a 
plain east of the Missouri river to a plateau in the west¬ 



ern portion and mountains (the Black Hills) in the 
southwest. Two low table lands from 1,500 to 2,000 feet 
above sea level extend north and south in the eastern 
half of the state. One, the Coteau* des Prairies, is near 
the eastern border. The other, the Coteau du Missouri, 
is just east of the Missouri river. Both of them are cov- 

* Coteau (Ko-td') means a hilly divide between two valleys. 









SURFACE FEATURES 


19 


ered in some places with boulders and piles of gravel, 
sand and clay. Between these table lands lies the famous 
basin of the James, or Dakota, river. In the southeast 


NORTH DAKOTA 



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Bas& s Llnle _ 

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V ' * (r 0> 


NEBRASKA 


Boundaries of South Dakota. 

A—Bois des Sioux River, which drains Lake Traverse. 

B—Lake Traverse. 

C—Line connecting headwaters of the two lakes. 

D—Big Stone Lake. 

E—Line due south of the outlet of Big Stone Lake. 

F—Boundary line between Minnesota and Iowa, called “Secondary base 
line of fifth principal meridian.” Correction lines ? called “standard 
parallels,” are surveyed parallel to it every 24 miles. The seventh 
of these is the boundary between the Dakotas. 

G —Big Sioux River. 

H —Missouri River. 

I—43rd parallel north of the equator. 

J—27th meridian west of Washington, or 104° 3" west of Greenwich. 
For surveying purposes this portion is called the Black Hills prin¬ 
cipal meridian. 

K—Seventh standard parallel north of the secondary base line to the 
fifth principal meridian of the government survey. 

5— The area surveyed from the fifth principal meridian. 

6— The area surveyed from the sixth principal meridian. 

B. H. —The area surveyed from the Black Hills principal meridian. 


are the basins of the Big Sioux river and the Vermillion 
river. 

West of the Missouri river the surface is higher and 
more uneven and hills and table lands are numerous. In 










20 SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 

the southwest these are so thick and steep sided that the 
region was called “bad lands for travelers” by the early 
French explorers. This name was shortened to “Bad¬ 
lands.” 

Five rivers flow into the Missouri from the west and 
drain this half of the state. To the north is the Grand 
river, which rises in Cave Hills in the extreme northwest 



Not far to the south is the Moreau (pronounced mor'- 
row) river. The map shows the largest of these 
rivers, the Cheyenne, reaching out branches like long 
fingers, clasping the entire Black Hills country. In the 
valley of one of its branches north of the Hills, the Belle 
Fourche river, is a great irrigation dam and a large tract 
of land made very productive by its waters. The Teton, 
or Bad, river rises in the Bad Lands and flows into the 
Missouri opposite Pierre. The White river rises in Ne¬ 
braska, flows through the Bad Lands and then across the 
plains. All of these rivers have broad and somewhat 
deep valleys. 









CHAPTER III 

PREPARATION FOR MAN 

A Rising and Sinking Crust. The geologist tells us 
that there is probably no portion of the surface of the 
earth that has not at some time been covered by the 
sea, and many portions of the present sea bottom were 
once dry land. Among the earliest beginnings of the con¬ 
tinent of North America three islands appeared in the 
region now occupied by South Dakota, in the northeast¬ 
ern, southeastern, and southwestern portions. 

Rock Layers Deposited. This rising and sinking of 
portiohs of the crust of the earth has usually been an 
exceedingly slow process, occupying long, long periods 
of time, sometimes millions of years. The weathering 
processes which now are wearing down the mountains 
and hills were at work then as now. Great layers of 
sediment were thus laid on the bottom of the sea. In 
later ages this sea bottom was uplifted and our great 
plains appeared. 

The Layers of the Plains. The story is not at all a 
simple one as there were many changes and interruptions 
in the process of continent making. The first of the rock 
layers laid on the bottom of the ocean in this area was 
composed largely of sand with some finer rock powder. 
Among the sediments were deposited the remains of 
many sea animals, such as the shells of clams, snails, 
corals and many tiny forms containing much lime. In 
time this layer hardened into a sandstone,* in some places 
with much limestone material in it. 

♦The Deadwood sandstone of Cambrian age, uptruded next the granites 
and slates of the Central Black Hills area. 

21 


22 SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 

Then came a period when this area was the bottom of 
a very shallow sea and the principal deposits were the 
limy remains of sea animals. This hardened into layers 
of limestone.* 

In a later age when this sea bottom became land, 
for some reason not known, the climate changed and 
became very dry. A genuine desert prevailed. A 
rock waste of fine red sandf and clay was spread over 
the plain. 

A sinking of the area occurred and layers of limestone, 
sandstone, and shale (clay beds) were deposited. Thus 
were laid down layer after layer of sediment or deposit 
of rock waste and lime. Later these formed the rock 
layers now beneath our feet. 

Ft. Pierre Shale. The “bed rock” nearest the surface 
over most of the state is a gray-blue clay or slatelike 
rock material called Ft. Pierre shale. This was deposited 
under a shallow sea which covered a wide area. Low 
islands appeared here and there and on them were many 
lizardlike animals, some as large as an elephant. Ser¬ 
pents of huge size and great length appeared and odd¬ 
shaped dragonlike birds flew about. 

Badland Formations. It is believed that when the 
fine clays and sand of the badland formations were depos¬ 
ited the area was above the sea. The climate was warm, 
many vegetable forms appeared and a great variety of 
animal life existed. Some of these animals were of mon¬ 
strous size. 

Black Hills. After the badland layers were deposited 
the granite core of the earth was crowded upward, push¬ 
ing the western rock layers into a dome which formed 
the Black Hills. All of the great mountain ranges of 

♦The buff Whitewood limestone of Ordovician age. Limestones of the 
Carboniferous period were formed next. 

The entire series is given on pp. - 

fThe Spearfish Red Beds of sandy shales and gypsum beds. 



Fig. 10. The Ancient Ice Sheet. 



Fig. ll. Photograph of a Canadian Glacier. “Glaciers carry great quan¬ 
tities of rock, gravel and clay.” 



Fig. 12. Hog-back of Dakota Sandstone, Buffalo Gap, South Dakota. 











Fig. 13 . In the Big Badlands. Cattle Descending From Grass-Covered 
Table Land to Grass-Covered Valley Below. 



Fig. 15. In the Big Bad Lands. 










PREPARATION FOR MAN 


23 


today were formed at about this time—the Rockies, the 
Andes, the Alps and the Himalayas. The action of the 
weather and running water has worn down this dome and 
exposed the granite core in the central part. Deep ravines 
and canyons have been cut into the sides and edges by 
the streams which flow out in all directions. Around the 
central granite portion are arranged upturned and over¬ 
lapping layers of rock. The edges of the harder layers, 
such as limestone and sandstone, have , been worn into 
ridges and hills, and in the soft layers broad valleys have 
been carved out. 

The hills, as a rule, have short, steep slopes toward 
the central portion, with long, gentle slopes away toward 
the plains. The separate ridges are sometimes called 
'‘hogbacks.’’ 

The Ice Sheet. Long after the period last described, 
down to a time so recent that geologists speak with rea¬ 
sonable certainty as to years,* a change in climate oc¬ 
curred. A great sheet of ice, in places hundreds of feet 
thick, pushed its way down from the north and spread 
over a large portion of North America. It is not known 
what caused this “ice age,” but the fact of its existence 
cannot be denied. 

Dakota Glacier. A great lobe or branch of this sheet 
has been named the Dakota glacier. Before the coming 
of the field of ice the Missouri river occupied the present 
James river valley, having carved out a broad basin about 
six hundred feet lower than the plains on either side. 
The ice sheet turned the Missouri river out of its course, 
pushing it over to the western border of the glacier. It 
is easy to remember which portion of the state was once 
covered by this great ice sheet as it was almost entirely 
east of the Missouri river. 

♦About 10,000 years ago is a good estimate. See Monograph XXV, 
U. S. G. S. f p. 130. 


24 


SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


The Work of the Glaciers. Glaciers carry a great deal 
of stones, gravel, sand, and fine clay, which are scraped 
or washed into the ice. Cracks occur in the ice, some 
of it melts, and much of the material is washed down 
under the glacier. Such a mountain of ice crushes many 
of the stones into fine powder and this is spread out 
underneath as a fine clay. This explains why the region 
east of the Missouri river is covered with a' coating of 
fine, tough clay (which makes the best kind of a subsoil), 
with here and there boulders and gravel. Many of these 
stones are found to be worn down and scratched by hav¬ 
ing been frozen into the ice and scraped and rubbed 
against other rocks as the glacier pushed its way along. 
These scratches on flat-faced rocks are called glacial 
striae (pronounced stri'e). The term “drift” is applied 
in a general way to the various deposits of rocks and 
rock waste made by the glacier. 

The Rocks’ Story. What a wonderful story the rocks 
might tell us if they could talk. Of course the geologist 
does read in them much of their long, long story, and 
he tells us of the distant ages of the misty past. We learn 
of the long period of preparation which the Sunshine 
State had to undergo before human beings occupied it. 
It fills us with reverence for the great Creator whose 
wonderful handiwork is thus in part revealed and faintly 
understood. 


CHAPTER IV 


EARLY INDIAN INHABITANTS 

Mound Builders. When white people began to explore 
the interior of America, in many places they found 
mounds which bore every appearance of having been 
made by human beings. Some were in the form of 
snakes, birds, or other animals and had various interest¬ 
ing features. The Indians could give no intelligent ac¬ 
count of the building of these mounds and for a long 
time people believed that a race lived in America before 
the Indians. They called these people the Mound Build¬ 
ers. No one today, however, believes that there was such 
a race. These mounds were built by Indians who lived 
here long ago. 

A few such mounds have been found in South Dakota, 
usually built as earthwork forts or for burial places. In 
these mounds have been found stone implements and 
weapons and pieces of pottery formerly used by the In¬ 
dians. In some cases what were believed to be mounds 
have proven to be natural features. 

The Rees. While doubtless various Indian tribes 
roamed over the South Dakota plains time out of mind, 
the first Indian inhabitants of whom we have very definite 
knowledge were the Arickaras (a-rik'-a-ra), or, as we 
more commonly call them, the Rees. They occupied the 
valley of the Missouri river, having gradually moved 
northward from the valley of the Platte river. These 
Rees had reached a somewhat advanced stage of devel¬ 
opment when white men first came into contact with 
them. We shall learn much more of them later on. 

25 


26 


SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


In 1801 Charles Le Raye started from Canada with a load of goods 
to trade with the Indians. He was captured by a band of Sioux 
Indians and taken up the Missouri river, spending three years and 
six months with them, most of the time in the Dakota country. The 
following description of the Rees is from the interesting account he 
wrote of his captivity and travels: 

** Their huts are placed with great regularity in two straight rows. 
The doors in each row front those in the opposite row, so that the huts 
stand facing each other, with a space of twelve feet between the doors. 
The town is picketed with pickets, twelve feet high and set very close 
to prevent firing between them. There is one gateway, which is shut 
at night. These people are much more cleanly in their persons, dress, 
and food, than the Sioux. They are also of a lighter complexion, 
which is of a bright copper color, with aquiline noses, and black, lively 
eyes. The women have high cheek bones, oval faces, and regular fea¬ 
tures. Both men and women are of a social, sprightly make. The 
men are tall and well formed, and the women, though smaller, are 
equally well shaped, and rather handsome than otherwise. These 
Indians raise corn, beans, melons, pumpkins, and tobacco.” (This 
description of the appearance of the Rees applies very closely to the 
Sioux as well. Being a prisoner of the Sioux, Le Raye naturally 
favors the Rees in his comparisons.) He describes Rees villages at 
the bend of the Missouri near the mouth of the Cheyenne. These had 
disappeared two years later when Lewis and Clark passed through this 
region. The Rees were also noted for their pottery. 

Kiowas and Omahas. When white explorers began 
to visit this section they found some bands of the Omahas 
or Mahas in the lower Missouri valley and Kiowas 
(ki'o-wa) in the Black Hills and nearby plains. The Rees 
were crowded northward, having villages along the Mis¬ 
souri river from near the present site of Fort Pierre and 
farther up the river. 

Dakotas. At this time the Dakotas were living in the 
northern Minnesota lake region. Near the Dakotas were 
the powerful Chippewa or Ojibway Indians, with whom 
they were continually at war. 

Dakotas Called Sioux. The French travelers in that 
region had much to do with the Chippewas. They asked 
these Indians the name of their warring neighbors. 

“Na-du-wes'-see,” said the Chippewas. 

Now this Indian word means “the snake” or, as applied 
to human beings, “the enemy.” 

The French wrote down this word, as they understood 


EARLY INDIAN INHABITANTS 


27 


it to be the name of the tribe. They spelled it in various 
ways, writing the ending “sioux” when they meant more 
than one of these Indians. Thus the term Sioux came to 
be applied to them, from a word which means “enemy.” 
As a rule the Dakotas do not like to be called by that 
name. It is no wonder that they prefer to be called 
“Dakota”* as it comes from a word meaning “friend.” 

Dakotas Move Westward. As the Chippewas came 
into contact with white men who came into this region, 
they soon obtained from them guns, powder, and bullets, 
and, later, horses. These possessions gave them a great 
advantage over the Dakotas. The Dakotas were crowded 
to the western and southwestern part of what is now 
Minnesota. 

Soon the Dakotas began to possess horses and to hunt 
the herds of buffalo out on the Dakota plains. The Teton 
bands were the first of the Dakotas to travel westward. 
They drove the Omahas away and took possession of the 
valleys of the Big Sioux and James rivers. They swept 
on westward, attacking the Rees on the Missouri river 
and the Kiowas in the Black Hills. The Yanktons, an¬ 
other Dakota tribe, followed and assisted in keeping the 
Omahas out of the South Dakota country and in fighting 
the Rees, crowding them up the Missouri river. The 
period from about 1750 to about 1790 is known as the 
“Forty Years’ War” between the Dakotas and the Rees. 
As a result the Rees were driven from the South Dakota 
area excepting for some big villages near the mouth of 
the Grand river. 

Coming of White Men. It was about the time of the 
coming of the Dakotas to these plains that white men 
began to explore this region. This story we will take 
up next. 

•The word Dakota is sometimes pronounced “da-ko'ty.” It should be 
pronounced dah-ko'tah. » 


28 


SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


FOR REFERENCE 

The seven allied Dakota or Sioux tribes are given by Doane Rob¬ 
inson as follows in volume I, Department of History Collections, South 
Dakota: 

1. M’dewakantonwans (People of Spirit Lake). Lived on Missis¬ 
sippi river near St. Paul. 

2. Wakpekutes (Leaf Shooters). Lived on Minnesota river in 
vicinity of Mankato. 

3. Wahpetons (People of the Leaves). Lived on upper Minnesota 
near Lac qui Parle. 

4. Sissetons (People of the Swamp). Lived in the vicinity of 
Big Stone Lake. 

These four bands were called collectively Isanties (Santees), mean¬ 
ing people who use knives, or people who once lived on Knife Lake. 
They all roamed into South Dakota time out of mind. 

5. Yanktons (People at the End, referring to the position they 
occupied in the great tribal councils). Lived on Missouri river near 
Yankton. 

6. Yanktonais (People near the End). Lived on upper James 
river from Redfield to Devils Lake. Their name, Ehanktonwanna, the 
French changed to Yanktonais, meaning “little Yanktons/’ though 
they were large and warlike. 

7. Tetons (People of the Prairie). This division includes all of 
the Sioux living west of the Missouri and comprises the following 
bands: (a) Uncpapas (People Who Camp by Themselves), (b) Sihas- 
apas (Blackfeet). This small band of Sioux is not to be confused 
with the powerful tribe of Blackfeet farther up the Missouri valley. 

(c) Itazipchos (People Without Bows; French, Sans Arcs). The 
three foregoing bands were closely allied and lived near Grand river. 

(d) Minneconjous (People Who Plant by the Water). They lived 
between the Black Hills and Platte river, (e) Oglalas. They lived 
along the Niobrara, (f) Sichanques (Burnt Thighs; French, Brules, 
pronounced Broo'-las). They lived on White river, (g) Oohenonpaas 
(Two Kettles, from the circumstance that at one time two kettles of 
meat saved the band from starving.) Lived near Fort Pierre. 

It should be borne in mind that the western Sioux are very distinct 
from the eastern Sioux, had little to do with them, and claimed to be 
the only true Dakotas. 




The Verendrye Plate—Reverse Side. 


























CHAPTER V 


THE COMING OF WHITE MEN 

The Verendryes. So far as we know the first white 
men who visited this region were two Frenchmen who 
came from Quebec and camped a while in 1743 near the 
location of the present site of Fort Pierre. These men 
were two brothers named Verendrye (ve-ren'dri) and 
two other men. They were sent by the governor of 
Quebec on a trip westward to explore the country. 

The elder Verendrye wrote an account of the trip and 
in this tells of their going as far west as the “mountains.” 
From his description we cannot tell just what mountains 
were meant, but believe now that they were the Black 
Hills. He reports that on their return they camped 
among a “band of the Little Cherry, who, where we found 
them, were two days’ march from their camp on the 
Missouri.” 

In his account he wrote as follows: “On an eminence 
(hill) near the camp, I placed a leaden plate engraved 
with the arms and inscription of the King.” 

The Plate Found. At a meeting of the South Dakota 
Historical Society in 1903, Bishop O’Gorman of Sioux 
Falls gave an account of the Verendrye trip. He said 
he believed this camp was not far from Pierre. “What 
a find that would be,” said the bishop, “for Mr. (Doane) 
Robinson and the Historical Society!” Well, February 
16, 1913, some children found on a hill near Fort Pierre 
this very metal plate, deposited by Verendrye in the 
spring of 1743. 

A free translation of the engraving on the tablet is as 
30 


THE COMING OF WHITE MEN 


31 


follows. Obverse or front side: “In the 26th year of 
the reign of Louis XV, the most illustrious Lord, the 
Lord Marquis of Beauharnois being Viceroy, 1741, Peter 
Gaultier de Laverendrye placed this.” Reverse side: 
“Placed by the Chevalier de L V R (La Verendrye) Lo. 
Jos. (Louis Joseph, his brother) Louy La Londette, A. 
Miotte (two employees), the 30th of March, 1743.” 

Early Traders. Shortly after the visit of the Veren- 
dryes, French merchants at St. Louis sent men in boats 
up the Missouri river to trade with the Indians. The 
earliest of these of whom we have any record was Pierre 
Dorion, who traded with the Yanktons as early as 1785 
and married a Yankton Indian. Pierre Garreau (gar-ro') 
traded with the Rees, farther up the Missouri, in 1790, 
and lived with them. 

Trading Posts. As early as 1796 at least two trading 
houses had been erected, Louisel’s (loa-zel') House, on 
Cedar island in the -Missouri river, just below where 
Pierre is located, and the Trudeau (tru-do') trading post, 
or Pawnee House, on the east side of the Missouri river, 
near the present location of Greenwood. Of course, 
both of these have long since disappeared. 


CHAPTER VI 


THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE 

l 

Colonial Period. Different countries in Europe laid 
claim to different portions of America by right of dis¬ 
covery. Of course, Spain at first claimed all of America 
because of the discovery by Columbus in 1492. England, 
however, established colonies east of the Appalachians, 
and French explorers laid claim to the Mississippi valley 
in the name of France. 

French and Indian War. In 1754, when Washington 
was a young man, war broke out between the English 
colonists and the French in Canada and in the Mississippi 
valley. The Indians were very friendly to the French and 
assisted them. England sent soldiers and guns over to 
assist the colonists. The English and colonists were suc¬ 
cessful and France was compelled to give up practically 
all of her claims in North America. This was in 1763 
when the French and Indian war ended. 

Louisiana. The French called the great stretch of 
country between the Rocky mountains and the Missis¬ 
sippi river Louisiana, for their king Louis. Look at the 
map and you will notice that nearly* all of what is now 
South Dakota is in the Louisiana region. In 1762, just 
before the close of the French and Indian war, France 
saw that she was about to be driven out of America, so 
she gave Louisiana to Spain, a more friendly country 
than Great Britain. 

♦All of the area now comprised in South Dakota was included in the 
Louisiana region excepting a portion of Roberts county which is drained 
northward. This portion was acquired from Great Britain in 1818. 

32 


THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE 


33 


Independence. Not many years after this occurred 
the Revolutionary War, when the thirteen American 
colonies fought against the mother country, Great Brit¬ 
ain, for independence. This was secured and these 
colonies became the United States. 

Movement Westward. The area of the United States 
then extended westward to the Mississippi river. The 
people who moved into the western part lived largely 
near the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and used these rivers 
for carrying their goods. Remember that the mouth of 
the Mississippi river was in the Louisiana country, and 
to ship goods into or out of the mouth of the Mississippi 
river one had to travel through this Spanish territory. We 
secured a treaty with Spain whereby we had “right to 
deposit” at New Orleans. Here goods shipped out of the 
Mississippi valley in small river boats could be changed 
to larger ocean-going boats which would carry them by 
way of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic ocean to the 
markets of the world and bring back needed supplies. 
Such goods and supplies could be unloaded and stored in 
New Orleans. 

France Gets Louisiana. In 1800 Spain withdrew the 
right of deposit and gave Louisiana back to France. 
What could we do? Remember there were no trains in 
those days, and without the ability to ship goods through 
the mouth of the Mississippi river it was believed that 
our progress in the Mississippi valley was at an end. 

Louisiana Purchase. This was the situation when Jef¬ 
ferson was elected President. He sent a commission to 
France to attempt to purchase the “isle of New Orleans,” 
as they called the land around New Orleans, almost sur¬ 
rounded by water. Napoleon was then ruling France. 
He was making war upon England. He needed money 
badly and, besides, feared that England might be able 
to take New Orleans away from him anyway. So he pro- 


34 


SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


posed to the American commissioners that they buy the 
whole Louisiana region. The. bargain was concluded 
without waiting to receive authority from Jefferson. This 
occurred in 1803. For this great tract of land the United 
States agreed to pay fifteen million dollars.* 

While Spain gave Louisiana to France in 1800, the 
French did not send anyone over to take possession until 
in the spring of 1803. Now the people of New Orleans 
were then very largely French. Indeed, a great many 
people of that city speak only French today. They did 
not like the Spanish rule. In fact, they had actually 
rebelled when Spain took possession after she received 
Louisiana from France in 1762. Now when they heard 
that France had again acquired this region they greatly 
rejoiced. When M. Laussat (lo-sa'), the French agent or 
commissioner, came over in the spring of 1803, however, 
he had no authority to take possession. He waited impa¬ 
tiently for orders from Napoleon. 

The News Received. News traveled very slowly in 
those days. At length Laussat and the other French¬ 
men at New Orleans heard that France had sold Louis¬ 
iana to the United States. This made them very un¬ 
happy. The Spaniards there, especially the Spanish gov¬ 
ernor and his soldiers, were vexed, also, because when 
Spain gave this region to France it was agreed by France 
that she would not dispose of it to any other country. 
The French agent, however, was equal to the emergency. 
On November 30, 1803, the Spanish flag was lowered and 
the flag of France was hoisted in its place. The French 
agent made an address to the people, telling them how 
much Napoleon loved them. He explained that if France 
kept possession they would be so far away from the 
mother country that they would always have to be a 

*.$11,250,000 to France and $3,750,000 in claims against France. The 
latter was not all paid for many years so that interest payments made 
the total cost amount to over $27,000,000. 


THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE 


35 


colony; that Napoleon, out of the goodness of his heart, 
had decided to let them govern themselves by belong¬ 
ing to the United States. Of course, no one was deceived; 
all knew it was only a pretty speech, but they felt better 
just the same. 

We Take Possession. In the meantime the United 
States had made preparation to take possession of her 
new purchase. The governor of Mississippi Territory 



The Louisiana Purchase. Nearly all of South Dakota was a part of the 
Louisiana Purchase of 1803, the remainder being in the Red river valley, 
acquired from Great Britain in 1818. 


with an armed force under General Wilkinson was 
camped just outside the city ready to take possession. 
The Spanish troops sailed away to Havana. 

“Twenty days the French flag flew from the staff. On 
December 20, 1803, Laussat met the American commis¬ 
sioners in the old Cabildo (city hall), facing the square, 
and, after a simple ceremony of delivering the keys, all 
walked out on the balcony.” The American flag was 
fastened to the lower portion of the flag rope and as the 
French flag was pulled down the Stars and Stripes rose. 
Half way up the pole the two flags met and they caught 











36 


SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


and waved together. A salute was fired amid “cheers 
and huzzas” from the Americans present.* Then the 
United States flag slowly mounted to the top of the staff 
and the people quietly dispersed to their homes and to 
their work, safe under its sheltering folds. 

“In March, 1804, United States troops under Captain 
Goddard crossed the Mississippi river from Cahokia to 
St. Louis, and (March 10) the French commandant deliv¬ 
ered the upper part of Louisiana to its new owners. The 
transfer of the Louisiana country was one of the few 
voluntary surrenders of dominion in the world’s history.” 
It was of great importance to the United States, for by 
it we acquired, peaceably and honorably, the western 
portion of the Mississippi basin. All of this is of great 
interest to South Dakotans as nearly all of the area of 
our present state was included in this region. 

•“But ‘tears and lamentations’ came from the better class of the French.” 
The quotations in this and the following paragraph are from “The Expan¬ 
sion of the American People,” by E. E. Sparks, pp. 205-6. 


CHAPTER VII 

THE LEWIS AND CLARK JOURNEY 

Federalists Criticize. All of the proceedings relative 
to the purchase of Louisiana were bitterly criticized by 
the Federalists, or members of the political party which 
was defeated when Jefferson was elected President. They 
said it was a desert country of no value. Few people 
knew very much about this great region then. Jefferson 
was very anxious to present to Congress a good argu¬ 
ment for spending such a large sum of money. In a mes¬ 
sage to Congress he said it had been reported to him 
that there was a wonderful mountain out in that coun¬ 
try, “one hundred and eighty miles long and forty-five 
in width, composed of solid rock salt.” He also men¬ 
tioned soil too rich for trees to grow upon, giant Indians, 
horned toads, and bogs. 

At once his opponents began to make fun of these 
items. They made up rhymes about “bogs” and “frogs” 
worth millions of dollars. They said, “O yes, there is not 
only a mountain of salt in that country, but also a moun¬ 
tain of sugar and near by it is a lake of whiskey!” 

Long before the actual purchase of Louisiana, Jefferson 
had planned sending some reliable men out to explore 
that country and bring back trustworthy reports. You 
may be sure that such joking made him very anxious 
to carry out this plan. Congress appropriated money for 
such an exploration. 

Lewis and Clark. The men Jefferson chose to take 
charge of the trip were Meriwether Lewis and William 
Clark. Lewis had been his private secretary and Clark 
was a brother of George Rogers Clark who had given 

37 


38 SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 

great service to this country during the Revolutionary 
War by saving the Northwest Territory to the United 
States. These men were both given the rank of captain 
in the army and each was to keep a separate record so if 
one became lost, perhaps the other would be preserved. 

Outfit at St. Louis. In the fall of 1803 they went to 
St. Louis, where they made preparations to start on a 
trip up the Missouri river and on to the Pacific coast. 
They employed about forty men—soldiers, hunters, trap¬ 
pers, traders, and guides. They built a large boat, fifty- 
five feet long, rowed by twenty-two oars, and two smaller 
ones, arid secured such supplies as they thought they 
would need. They also took two horses with them, 
leading or riding them along the bank. 

The Journey. On the fourteenth of May, 1804, they 
started up the Missouri river on their long journey. They 
went up this river as far as they could go, then went 
overland across the Rocky mountains and down the 
Columbia river to the Pacific ocean. The trip there and 
back occupied two years, and the stories of their expe¬ 
riences, especially with the Indians, is a most interesting 
one. The following events, taken from their records, are 
of especial interest to South Dakotans: 

They arrived at the mouth of the Big Sioux river on 
the morning of August 21, 1804. The evening before they 
camped at the present sit*e of Sioux City, and here one of 
their number, Sergeant Charles Floyd, died. A beautiful 
monument now marks his burial place. On the 22d they 
arrived at the present site of Elk Point and cast ballots 
for a successor to Sergeant Floyd. Patrick Gass was 
elected. This was probably the first instance of a popu¬ 
lar election by white folks on what is now South Dakota 
soil. 

They stopped at the mouth of Vermillion river and 
went several miles up that river to examine Spirit Mound 


THE LEWIS AND CLARK JOURNEY 


39 


to satisfy their curiosity which was aroused by stories 
from the Indians to the effect that it was inhabited by a 
race of pygmies or tiny people who instantly put to death 
all who dared to come near them. Of course, they found 
nothing of the sort. 

They camped several days on the Nebraska side of 
the river opposite the present location of the city of 
Yankton and held council with the Yankton Indians, 
giving presents, feasting and dancing. We are told that 
an Indian boy who was born in a lodge near the camp 
was wrapped by Captain Lewis in an American flag, and 
a prophecy made that this boy would become a great 
friend of the whites. The prophecy certainly came true, 
as the boy became the famous Yankton chief, Struck-by- 
the-Ree. They sent from here several Yankton chiefs, 
accompanied by Pierre Dorion, their interpreter, on a 
trip to Washington. 

In his diary Clark relates the incident of the loss of 
their horses and of sending George Shannon to find them. 
The story of his rejoining the party is told by Clark in 
his diary for September 11. We quote it, spelling, cap¬ 
italization and all, just as Clark wrote it. 

Sept. 11th Tuesday 1804. 

11 A cloudy morning. Set out verry early, the river wide & Shallow 
the bottom narrow, & the river crouded with Sand bars, passed the 
Island on which we lay at one mile, Passed three Islands one on the 
L. S. and 2 on the S. S. opposit the Island on the L. S. I saw a Village 
of Barking Squirel 970 yds long, and 800 yds Wide Situated on a 
jentle Slope of a hill, those anamals are noumerous, I killed 4 with a 
View to have their Skins Stufed. 

‘ 1 here the Man who left us with the horses 22(16) days ago George 
Shannon (He started 26 Augt) and has been ahead ever since joined 
us nearly Starved to Death, he had been 12 days without anything to 
eate but Grapes & one Habit, which he Killed by shooting a piece of 
hard Stick in place of a ball. This Man Supposeing the boat to be 
ahead pushed on as long as he could, when he became weak and feable 
deturmined to lay by and waite for a tradeing boat, which is expecting, 
Keeping one horse for a last resorse, thus a man had like to have 
Starved to death in a land of Plenty for the want of Bullitts or Some¬ 
thing to Kill his meat! ’ ’ 


40 SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 

By barking squirrels he meant prairie dogs. It is 
interesting to note that as early as 1804 this was called 
a land of plenty. 

A few days later they passed the Trudeau trading post, 
or Pawnee House, constructed of logs and protected by a 
stockade. On the 22d of September they passed a trading 
post known 41 s Loisel’s House. 

Two days later they arrived at the mouth of the Teton 
(Bad) river. At this place they were met by a number of 
Teton Indians under the leadership of Chief Black Buf¬ 
falo. These Indians were not as friendly as the Yanktons 
had been, but several days were spent with them in feast¬ 
ing and merriment. 

At the mouth of the Cheyenne river they found a trad¬ 
ing post operated by a trader from St. Louis named John 
Valle. 

On the 8 th of October they reached the mouth of the 
Grand river. Here was a big settlement of Ree Indians. 
Several white traders were living with these Indians. 
One of these traders, Pierre Garreau, had lived there 
about fourteen years. 

They passed on into what is now North Dakota and 
spent the winter among the Mandans. The next year 
they crossed the mountains and reached the Pacific 
ocean.* This was accomplished after much hardship, 
and had it not been for an Indian woman named Saka- 
kawea (Sa-ka-ka-we-a—‘‘Bird Woman”—formerly spelled 
Sacajawea), who rendered noble assistance as guide and 
interpreter, it is doubtful whether their expedition would 
have been successful. 

The Return. Upon their return to St. Louis in 1806 
they were received with great joy, and the story of their 

♦On November 7, 1805, Clark wrote in his journal that they had arrived 
“in view of the Ocian, this great Pacific Octean which we have been so 
long anxious to See. and the roreing or noise made by the waves braking 
on the rockey Shores (as I suppose) may be heard distictly.” (Note his 
spelling!) 


THE LEWIS AND CLARK JOURNEY 


41 


wonderful journey was listened to with great interest. 
They gave an account of their experiences to President 
Jefferson; who was eager to learn of that great western 
country. Our claims to the Oregon country were based, 
in part, upon the explorations of Lewis and Clark. 


CHAPTER VIII 


EARLY CONFLICTS WITH THE INDIANS 

Trouble with the Rees. When Lewis and Clark re¬ 
turned down the Missouri river in 1806 they persuaded 
Big White, a Mandan chief, to go with them. Big White 
got his name from the fact that he was very big and 
very white. He was taken to Washington with some 
other Indians and French traders who could act as inter¬ 
preters. The next spring he started back to his people, 
escorted by Sergeant Nathaniel Pryor and a few other 
soldiers to protect him from the Dakotas and Rees. 
Some traders also accompanied the party. 

Now we must remember that the Rees were located 
along the Grand river and wedged in between the Man- 
dans on the north and the Dakotas on the south. 

When the party arrived at the lowest of the Ree vil¬ 
lages they learned that the Rees were at war with the 
Mandans and that Black Buffalo and his band of Dakotas 
were helping the Rees. A Mandan woman who had 
been captured by the Rees told the whites that Manuel 
Lisa (lee'-sa), a Spanish trader from St. Louis, had been 
permitted to pass northward a short time before. The 
Rees and Black Buffalo’s band intended to kill Lisa on 
his way back and seize his goods, and were going to do 
the same thing to this party. They were especially 
anxious to capture Big White, this chief of their enemies, 
the Mandans. 

In spite of this warning, the party proceeded up the 
Missouri river to the other Ree villages. Here they were 

42 


EARLY CONFLICTS WITH THE INDIANS 43 

fired upon by the Rees and Black Buffalo’s Indians and 
a fight resulted, many shots being exchanged. Owing to 
the large number of Indians, Pryor ordered a retreat. 
The Indians continued to pursue until toward evening, 
when Black Buffalo was wounded seriously. Three of 
the traders were killed and seven were wounded. This 
was the first conflict between the United States soldiers 
and these Indians and the first record of bloodshed be-: 
tween the races in the Dakota country. Big White was 
returned to St. Louis and did not get back to his people 
until 1809. 

War of 1812. Beginning in 1811 and extending 
throughout the year of 1812 occurred our second war 
with Great Britain. This is known as the “War of 1812.” 
The British possessed Canada and adopted the policy 
of arousing the Indians along the frontier to fight with 
them against the Americans. 

Government of Territory. We must bear in mind a 
few facts about the government of this region, known so 
long as “Louisiana.” You remember we purchased it 
from France in 1803. In 1804 we took possession of it 
and annexed it to Indiana Territory for the purpose of 
governing it. It was then divided into two parts, the 
Territory of Orleans (nearly the present area of the state 
of Louisiana) and the District of Louisiana. St. Louis 
was made the seat of government of the District of Louis¬ 
iana. The next year, 1805, this “district” was made a 
territory, governed by a governor and judges appointed 
by the President. Some time after the return of the 
Lewis and Clark expedition, Captain William Clark was 
made a general and was appointed Indian agent and sent 
to St. Louis to take charge of Indian and military affairs 
in the Louisiana Territory. During the war with Great 
Britain in 1812 the Territory of Orleans was admitted as 
the state of Louisiana, and all the northern territory. 


44 SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 

including, of course, the South Dakota area, became the 
territory of Missouri. General Clark was made governor. 

Manuel Lisa. This Spanish trader with the Indians 
had for many years been trading with the various tribes 
of the Missouri river country and was a man of great 
influence among them. He distributed among them seeds 
and potatoes for planting, fowls and cattle, and won their 
confidence by showing a genuine interest in them. When 
war began with Great Britain he reported to General 
Clark at St. Louis that the British were doing their 
utmost to unite the Indians to support them in the con¬ 
flict with the United States. Clark made Lisa American 
agent for all the Indians on the upper Missouri river with 
the duty of uniting these Indians for the Americans and 
against the British. He was remarkably successful in 
this and the United States owes him a great debt of 
gratitude for his services. There was one division of the 
Dakotas, however, which he was unable to keep from 
joining the British, as we shall soon see. 

Waneta, “The Charger.” In the meantime you may be 
sure the British were not idle. They controlled from 
Canada the fur trade with most of the Indians of the 
upper Mississippi river, and their traders were constantly 
trying to get the trade of the Indians of the Missouri 
river country. One of these traders was Major Robert 
Dickson, a Scotchman, who had married a Dakota woman 
and lived in a beautiful grove on the Elm river in what 
is now Brown county. When the war broke out he was 
placed in charge of British interests in this region. His 
wife’s brother, Red Thunder, was chief of the band. 
Dickson persuaded this chief and his son, later called 
Waneta, to join a party of Sisseton Indians on an expe¬ 
dition against the Americans. They were joined by 
nearly two hundred of the eastern Sioux bands of the 
Minnesota country and advanced into Ohio, where they 


EARLY CONFLICTS WITH THE INDIANS 


45 


took part in the battle of Fort Meigs. Here they were 
repulsed and started to attack Fort Stevenson, on the 
Sandusky river. On the way all the Sioux-excepting Red 
Thunder, Waneta, and sixteen Sissetons deserted Major 
Dickson. In the attack on Fort Stevenson the son of 
Red Thunder distinguished himself for his bravery and 
received the name Waneta, which means “the charger.” 

Waneta continued to serve the British until the close 
of the war, being made a captain and held in high esteem 
by the soldiers. Returning to his home in the Dakota 
country he became friendly to the Americans.* 

♦In 1823 the Rees were driven out of their homes at the mouth of the 
Grand river and moved northward to the mouth of Beaver creek (Emmons 
county, North Dakota). Waneta followed them and by protecting them 
from further attacks from the Sioux he compelled the Rees to support him 
until his death in 1848. 


CHAPTER IX 

PERMANENT SETTLEMENT 

Early Traders. We have already seen that as early 
as 1785 white men had established a fur trading business 
with the Indians of this region. Many traders married 
Indian wives and lived among them, perhaps making 
occasional trips to St. Louis. After the return of Lewis 
and Clark the fur traders at St. Louis became much more 
active. 

The Astorians. News of this growing fur trade 
reached the eastern cities and interested the traders there. 
A New York company decided to establish a trading 
post away west on the Pacific coast. A famous journey 
was undertaken overland with the purpose of founding a 
settlement there, to be called Astoria, in honor of John 
Jacob Astor, the head of this New York company. 

The Astorian* expedition passed through the South 
Dakota country in 1811, going up the Missouri river to 
the mouth of the Grand river. They went up the Grand 
river and, turning southward, explored the northern 
Black Hills (called then the Black Mountains). So far 
as is known they were the first white men to visit this 
region. From here they went on to the Pacific coast. 

First Permanent Settlement. Trading posts were es¬ 
tablished along the Missouri, Big Sioux, and James rivers. 
In 1817 Joseph LaFrambois (la-fram-bwa') built a log 
house for trading purposes near the mouth of the Teton 
(Bad) river, near the site of the present city of Fort 

*Mr. Walter Hunt, the leader ot the party, made very interesting notes. 
Those concerning the Ree Indians and his experiences in this region are 
especially interesting to us. The story of the journey is told by Washing¬ 
ton Irving in “The Astorians.” 

40 


PERMANENT SETTLEMENT 


47 


Pierre. This was called Fort Teton. In 1822 Fort Te- 
cumseh was built by the Columbia Fur Company about 
two miles north of Fort Teton. This was sold later to 
the American Fur Company. In 1832 the company aban¬ 
doned Fort Tecumseh and moved into their much larger 
quarters about a mile to the north. In 1855 this fort was 
sold to the United States. In 1859 a new fort was built 
nearly two miles still farther north. This is commonly 
spoken of as “New Fort Pierre,” though it has long since 
disappeared. (Two other posts were built in the imme¬ 
diate vicinity of the mouth of the Teton river by fur trad¬ 
ing companies, one in 1828, the other in 1833.) The 
vicinity of the site of the present city of Fort Pierre is 
therefore the scene of the oldest continuous settlement 
by whites in the South Dakota area, its settlement dating 
from the La Frambois post in 1817. 


CHAPTER X 


THE REES EXPELLED 

Grand River Massacre. General W. H. Ashley with a 
party of about one hundred fur traders and a cargo of 
goods went up the Missouri river in the spring of 1823. 
In company with Major Andrew Henry he had organ¬ 
ized the Rocky Mountain Fur Company and the year 
before had established trade with the Indians at the head¬ 
waters of the Missouri. When Ashley and his party 
arrived at the Ree villages near the mouth of the Grand 
river they stopped to trade and to get an outfit of horses 
whereby half the party could go overland to the mouth 
of the Yellowstone, where Major Henry was located. 
Early in the morning of June 2 the Rees attacked Ashley’s 
men, killing thirteen and wounding ten. Ashley was 
compelled to retreat down the river and send to Fort 
Atkinson (near Omaha) for help. 

Campaign Against Rees. Upon learning of the attack 
by the Rees upon General Ashley, Colonel Henry Leaven¬ 
worth, who was in command at Fort Atkinson, at once 
organized an expedition against the Rees. Taking 220 
soldiers from the fort, he was reinforced on the way up 
the river by about 100 men from the fur companies and 
over 700 western Sioux Indians, who were eager to fight 
their oldtime foes, especially under such favorable cir¬ 
cumstances. 

The Dakotas made an attack, after which they with¬ 
drew. The soldiers opened fire and did considerable 
damage, especially with cannon, which fired six-pound 
balls. Grey Eyes, the Ree chief, was killed at the very 

48 


THE REES EXPELLED 


49 


first shot and the second one cut down the Ree “medicine 
flag” pole. There was some parley and at length the 
Rees, under cover of the night, escaped and could not be 
found. 

The Rees moved farther up the river, out of the South 
Dakota area, though bands of them roved about. For a 
long time they were very unfriendly to the whites, killing 
many a hunter and trader. 

The following interesting letter was sent the father of 
John Gardner, who was killed in the attack on the Ashley 
party June 2: 

Dr Sir: My painful duty it is to tell you of the deth of yr son wh 
befell at the hands of the indians 2d June in the early morning. He 
lived a little while after he was shot and asked me to inform you of 
his sad fate. We brought him to the ship when he soon died. Mr. 
Smith a young man of our company made a powerful prayr wh moved 
us all greatly and I am persuaded John died in peace. His body we 
buried with others near this camp and marked the grave with a log. 
His things we will send to you. The savages are greatly treacherous. 
We traded with them as friends but after a great storm of rain and 
thunder they came at us before light and many were hurt. I myself 
was shot in the leg. Master Ashley is bound to stay in these parts till 
the traitors are rightly punished. Yr Obt Svt 

—Hugh Glass 

Hugh Glass was a noted hunter of the Missouri river region. The 
prayer alluded to was by Jedediah Smith, and was the first prayer on 
record in Dakota. After the battle Mr. Smith, who was only eighteen 
years old, volunteered to carry the news to Major Henry at the mouth 
of the Yellowstone. He made the trip single handed and alone 
through a perilous country one thousand miles. 

Among the interesting stories told of this famous hunter is the 
following: Immediately after the defeat of the Rees in August, 1823, 
he started with a party headed by Major Henry up the valley of the 
Grand river. Going ahead of the party as a scout he suddenly came 
upon a grizzly bear and her cubs. The bear seized him and mangled 
him horribly. “The main body now arrived, having heard cries for 
succor, and slew the bear as she was standing over the prostrate body 
of.her victim.”* He was left with two companions, who staid with 
him a few days and then basely deserted him, taking his gun and other 
equipment. Glass was so angered by the desertion of these men that 
he determined to live and get revenge. He crawled to a spring, near 
which were some ripe buffalo berries. For several days he staid 

♦Chittenden, “History of the American Fur Trade of the Far West,” 
Vol. II, p. 099. 


50 


SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


here and kept from starving by eating the berries. Then he set out 
on a journey to Fort Kiowa, a hundred miles southward. Coming 
upon a pack of wolves that had captured a buffalo calf, he hid until 
they had killed the calf, then drove away the wolves. He had no way 
of making a fire or cooking the meat so was obliged to eat it raw. He 
made his way to the fort and almost immediately set out again to 
join Major Henry’s party. The hunters and trappers with him were 
attacked by the Rees and Glass alone escaped. He reached Henry’s 
trading post on the upper Missouri in the winter, only to find his 
deserters had gone down to Fort Atkinson (Omaha). He started for 
that place with four companions. Again was attacked by a band of 
Rees (though he had taken a different route) and he alone escaped. 
At length after more wanderings he found the two heartless associates, 
but they were in the army and thus protected. He then gave up all 
thought of revenge. He was later killed by the Rees. 


CHAPTER XI 


MISSIONARIES—FAMOUS TRAVELLERS 

Among the very first explorers of north central United 
States were Jesuit missionaries. These men did good 
work among the Indians, converting many to the Chris¬ 
tian faith. Many years passed, however, before mission¬ 
aries permanently located among the Indians and taught 
them the better ways of life. 

Riggs and Williamson. It was not until about 1834 
that missionaries made their homes among any of the 
Dakota Indians. The pioneers in this work were Rev. 
Thomas S. Williamson and his wife and Rev. Stephen 
R. Riggs and his wife. They made their homes among 
the Dakotas of southwestern Minnesota and about Big 
Stone lake. Many of these Indians became loyal con¬ 
verts and their influence for good was felt throughout 
the Dakota country. 

Working together, the Williamsons and Riggs trans¬ 
lated the Bible, Pilgrims’ Progress, hymn books and 
other literature into the eastern Sioux language. Dr. 
Riggs was the author of a valuable Dakota-English dic¬ 
tionary, which gave a collection of eastern Sioux words 
and their English equivalents. 

In 1840 Mr. Riggs made a journey to Fort Pierre, and 
while there conducted a religious service, the first Protes¬ 
tant service conducted in what is now South Dakota. At 
their homes at their first mission (Presbyterian) at Lac 
qui Parle, on the Minnesota river, about twenty miles 
southeast of Big Stone lake, was born Alfred L. Riggs, 
who has done a noble work as missionary to the Santees 

51 


52 


SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


near Springfield, and John P. Williamson, with a similar 
splendid missionary record among the Yanktons. 

Many of the later missionaries among the Dakotas 
have done most noble work. Among them are Miss 
Mary Collins, for thirty-three years a Congregational 
missionary among the Tetons, especially the Uncpapa 
and Blackfeet bands, and Rev. Dr. Edward Ashley,* of 
the Episcopal church, whose life has been dedicated to 
his Master’s work among the Teton tribes. 

Father De Smet. One of the most distinguished mis¬ 
sionaries among the Indians of the northwest was Father 
Peter John De Smet, a Jesuit priest. He came to St. 
Louis in 1821 at the age of 21 and the record of his 
travels and ministrations is filled with thrilling incidents 
and acts of heroism and utmost devotion. While he vis¬ 
ited the Dakotas as early as 1839, his most renowned visit 
was 1849, for the purpose of establishing missions among 
the Dakotas. The next year when the Asiatic cholera 
broke out among them he was attacked by the plague, 
but recovered. His associate, Father Haeken, also was 
sick with it and died. At this time there was a terrible 
scourge of smallpox among the Indians and Father De 
Smet went about ministering to the dying. 

Pierre Chouteau, Jr. A steamboat was first employed 
on the Missouri river in 1831. It was built by Pierre 
Chouteau, Jr. (shoo-t5) of St. Louis and named the Yel¬ 
lowstone. He made a second voyage in the Yellowstone 
the next year. When he arrived at the mouth of the 
Teton (Bad) river a new fort was just being completed 
about a mile north of Fort Tecumseh. This new fort was 

♦Dr. Ashley has done a notable work not only through the many churches 
he has established and native ministers he has trained for service but 
through many translations he has made into the Dakota tongue. For the 
civic and patriotic inspiration of the Dakota Indians he has translated the 
South Dakota song given on page 18 of this book. The first two lines 
show how naturally poetic the Dakota language is : 

“South Dakota Makojanjan, 

Wakantanka hukuya.” 


MISSIONARIES—FAMOUS TRAVELLERS 


53 


named Fort Pierre in his honor. He was famous as a 
fur trader as his father of the same name had been before 
him. 

George Catlin. On the steamboat Yellowstone in 1832 
came George Catlin, perhaps the most famous of all 
painters of Indians. Catlin spent some time at Fort 
Pierre and other points along the Missouri, painting 
some excellent portraits of Dakota and Ree Indians. He 
wrote many interesting accounts of the Indians, also. 

Scientists. The year after Catlin’s visit came Maxi¬ 
milian of Bavaria, who afterward became King of that 
country. He was a scientist and a much more accurate 
observer than Catlin. A few years later General John C. 
Fremont, “The Pathfinder of the Rockies,” and Joseph 
Nicollet (ne-col-le'), a noted scientist, came. They made 
valuable maps of this region. In 1843 John James 
Audubon (o'-doo-bon), a most distinguished scientist, 
made a visit to this region. Many noted geologists have 
visited the badlands to study the fossils found there, and 
hundreds of splendid specimens have been taken to the 
great museums. 


CHAPTER XII 


TERRITORIAL CHANGES 

The dates and facts mentioned in this chapter may not 
be very interesting, and it may not be necessary to re¬ 
member all of them. The story of this Republic of 
Friends would not be complete, however, if they were 
not recited. 

Louisiana Purchase. You will certainly remember 
that nearly all of the present area of South Dakota was 
included in the Louisiana country we purchased from 
France in 1803. The northern boundary of that region 
was the watershed between the Missouri-Mississippi 
river basin and the Red river basin. Thus the north¬ 
eastern portion of the state, which drains northward, was 
not in the Louisiana country. In 1818 a treaty was made 
with Great Britain whereby the forty-ninth parallel was 
made the northern boundary of this region. Not until 
1818, then, was all of what is now South Dakota in the 
United States. 

The Louisiana Purchase was first annexed to Indiana 
Territory and then was divided by congress into the Ter¬ 
ritory of Orleans (the present area of Louisiana) and the 
District of Louisiana. In 1805 this “district” was made 
a territory and governed by officers appointed by the 
President. 

Missouri Territory. In 1812 congress provided that 
the territory of Orleans should become the state of 
Louisiana and the territory of Louisiana should be called 
the territory of Missouri. The people living in the terri- 

54 


TERRITORIAL CHANGES 


55 


tory were given the right to elect a legislature having 
power to make laws subject to the approval of congress. 

When the state of Mis¬ 
souri was carved out of this 
territory and admitted in 
1821, no provision was made 
for the government of the 
portion of the territory to 
the north for a long time, 
although the unorganized region is usually named on 
maps as Missouri territory. 

Michigan Territory. In 1834 congress enlarged the 
territory of Michigan and made it include what is now 
Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and the portion 
of the Dakotas lying east of the Missouri and White 
Earth rivers. The region west of the Missouri remained 
unorganized until 1854, when Nebraska territory was 
created. 

Wisconsin Territory. In 1836 Michigan was given its 
present boundaries and the remainder of Michigan terri¬ 
tory was included in Wisconsin territory. 

Iowa Territory. In 1838 congress gave Wisconsin 
its present boundaries and created the territory of Iowa 
out of the remainder of its area. In 1846 Iowa, with its 
present boundaries, was made a state and the remainder 
of the region comprised in Iowa territory was left with¬ 
out any organized government for three years. Thus the 
entire South Dakota region was without organized gov¬ 
ernment from 1846 to 1849. 

Minnesota Territory. In 1849 congress created Minne¬ 
sota territory, to comprise the region left after Iowa 
was admitted as a state in 1846. This included what is 
now Minnesota and the portion of the Dakotas to the 
east of the Missouri and White Earth rivers. The region 
west of the Missouri remained unorganized until 1854. 





56 SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 

Nebraska Territory. In 1854 congress created Ne¬ 
braska territory west of the Missouri river. What is 
now South Dakota was then partly in Minnesota terri¬ 
tory and partly in Nebraska territory. 

Land of the Dacotahs. In 1858 the state of Minne¬ 
sota was admitted by congress, and no provision was 
made for the government of the region between the west¬ 
ern boundary line of Minnesota and the Missouri river. 
This country was then called the “Land of the Dacotahs.” 



Dakota Territory from 1861 to 1863 

From 1858 to 1861 this condition prevailed, and during 
this time the people living in this region took the affairs 
of government into their own hands. 

Dakota Territory. In 1861 Dakota Territory was cre¬ 
ated. The area comprised the present area of the two 
Dakotas and also that extending to the Rocky mountains. 
In 1863 congress created the Territory of Idaho, embrac¬ 
ing also the present states of Montana and Wyoming. 
Dakota Territory was thus cut down to include the pres¬ 
ent area of the two Dakotas. In 1864 Montana Territory 
was created and Wyoming was attached to Dakota. 
From 1864 to 1868 Dakota Territory included the present 
area of the Dakotas together with Wyoming. In 1868 
Wyoming Territory was created and our present western. 











TERRITORIAL CHANGES 


57 


boundary, the twenty-seventh meridian west of Wash¬ 
ington, became permanent. In 1882 another slight 
change was made in the boundary line. In that year 



Dakota Territory from 1863 to 1864 
and from 1868 to 1889. The Keya Paha 
and Niobrara rivers formed a portion of 
the southern boundaries until 1882. 

Nebraska was given the tract of land south of the forty- 
third parallel and north of the Keya Paha and Niobrara 
rivers. In 1889 Dakota Territory was divided and North 
Dakota and South Dakota became states. 











CHAPTER XIII 


THE OVERLAND TRAIL AND INDIAN 
TROUBLES 

The Overland Trail. After gold was discovered in 
California in 1848 there was a great rush to that region 
from all parts of the United States. One of the overland 
trails was just south of the Dakota country. There was 
considerable trouble with the Indians, many of whom 
were hostile. The travelers often shot down or fright¬ 
ened away the buffalo, one of the main sources of food 
of the plains Indians. You may be sure this did not help 
matters. Travel became very unsafe. 

Forts Built. The government decided to build a few 
strong forts along and near the trail, where soldiers would 
be kept to protect white travelers. One was built at Fort 
Laramie, Wyoming, and Fort Pierre was purchased from 
the American Fur Company. 

Battle of Ash Hollow. In 1854 several soldiers were 
killed by Indians near Fort Laramie, and it was decided 
to send a strong force to teach the Indians a lesson. The 
next year General William S. Harney was sent out with 
1,200 soldiers. On the way to Fort Laramie General 
Harney found a band of Dakotas (Brules) at Ash Hol¬ 
low in north central Nebraska. These were surrounded, 
and in the battle that followed one hundred and thirty- 
six Indians and thirteen soldiers were killed. General 
Harney has been severely criticised for attacking this 
band of Indians, who were not even accused of being 
hostile. It should be remembered, however, that up to 

58 


THE OVERLAND TRAIL AND INDIAN TROUBLES 59 

this time these plains Indians had never been taught 
respect for the United States government. 

Winter at Fort Pierre. After going to Fort Laramie, 
Harney and his troops went to Fort Pierre, camping on 
the way in the Black Hills near the highest peak, which 
was named Harney Peak* for him. His entire army 
spent the winter (1855-6) at Fort Pierre and in small 
detachments scattered about. In the spring Harney held 
a big council of the Sioux and listened to their grievances 
and made them agree not to molest travelers on the Cali¬ 
fornia trail. He also succeeded in getting some reforms 
in the methods of dealing with the Indians. Unfortu¬ 
nately he was not able to get the government to carry 
out a plan which would probably have proved a most 
excellent one. He proposed that each band of Indians 
furnish men to act as police, the government providing 
uniforms and directing them. Fort Pierre was aban¬ 
doned as a government post in 1857 and Fort Randall, 
about one hundred miles farther down the Missouri, was 
occupied in its stead. 

General Todd. One of the soldiers under General Har¬ 
ney was Captain J. B. S. Todd (made a general in the 
Civil War), a cousin of the wife of Lincoln. While at 
Fort Pierre and at Fort Randall he became interested in 
the fur trade. He resigned from the army, and with other 
traders established trading posts along the Missouri. 
One post was established near the mouth of the James 
river, where Yankton now stands. Captain Todd was a 
man of great influence with the Indians and, as we shall 
see later, with the whites as well. 

*7,242 feet above sea-level (report of the computing section of the United 
States Geological Survey, October 10, 1916). 


CHAPTER XIV 


A TERRITORY IN NAME ONLY 

A Make Believe Territory. Nearly all children have 
played they were grownups, have worn adult clothing 
and behaved as though they were real men and women. 
Well, did you know that we once had a Dakota Territory, 
in which a governor and other officers were elected and 
laws were passed and yet, though done seriously, it was 
all a “make believe”? 

Until 1851 all this region was owned entirely by 
Indians. White men had no right to establish homes 
here. In that year we bought the first bit of South 
Dakota land from the Dakota Indians. At that time this 
region was a part of Minnesota Territory. Governor 
Ramsey and a federal officer then made a treaty with 
some of the Sisseton and Wahpeton tribes of the Dakotas. 
The United States agreed to pay the Indians over one and 
one-half million dollars for all of their lands east of the 
Big Sioux river and a line from Lake Kampeska to Lake 
Traverse.* 

Minnesota Boundary. Shortly after this important 
treaty was made there was talk of the admission of 
Minnesota as a state. If you will look at the map you 
will see that the western boundary of Iowa is the Mis¬ 
souri river and the Big Sioux. Now the Big Sioux (and 
farther north the Red river), you remember, became the 
boundary between white man’s land and Indian land. 
When Minnesota became a state the most natural thing 

♦See map showing accessions of lands from Indians. 

60 


A TERRITORY IN NAME ONLY 61 

to do would be to make this line the western boundary 
of the state. This was not done, however. 

A Clever Plan. Some men at St. Paul, the capital of 
Minnesota Territory, thought it would be a fine plan to 
have the western boundary of Minnesota placed to the 
east of this line, which separated lands of the whites and 
Indians. That would leave a strip of white man’s land 
to the west of Minnesota. In that strip they might make 
settlements and ask congress to make a territory out of 
that strip and the western Indian country. 

Sioux Falls Settled. To carry out this plan the Dakota 
Land Company was formed and in the spring of 1857 it 
sent a party of men out into that strip to secure the most 
desirable locations for towns. Plainly the very best place 
in that region was at the falls of the Big Sioux river. 
Here was splendid water power to run mills and fac¬ 
tories, especially flour and saw mills. 

When they arrived there they found some settlers from 
Iowa had already obtained possession of the lower falls, 
where they set up a saw mill. The Minnesota settlers, 
however, made a settlement at the upper falls, where the 
principal business portion of the city is now located. 
Thus was Sioux Falls settled in 1857. Several other set¬ 
tlements were also made in this strip.* 

Minnesota Admitted. The very next year, 1858, 
Minnesota became a state, and, sure enough, the western 
boundary which congress fixed was just as these people 
had planned. We should remember that territories are 
created and states are admitted by congress, which meets 
at Washington and makes all laws for the nation. Con¬ 
gress admitted Minnesota as a state, but made no pro¬ 
vision for the government of the western part of Minne- 

♦The only ones which remain to this day are Sioux Falls and Flandreau 
(named for Judge Flandrau of St. Paul—note the change in spelling). 
Other towns were started, such as Medary and Renshaw, but during the 
Indian scare of 1862 all of these white settlements were abandoned, Sioux 
Falls and Flandreau being the only ones that were rebuilt. 


62 


SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


sota Territory. Here, then, were these settlers, between 
the Indian country (west of the Big Sioux river) and the 
state of Minnesota, and they had no government—no 
officers or laws. 

Make Believe Government. Now comes what we have 
called the “make believe” government. The people at 
once proceeded to organize a territory for themselves. 
They had to have laws. Very well, they elected a legis¬ 
lature, which met at Sioux Falls and, not having time to 
spare from their work to prepare a set of laws, they 
adopted all the laws of Minnesota for their territory. 
They elected Henry Masters as governor. A territory 
is entitled to have a delegate in congress. They wanted 
someone to represent them, and of course someone was 
anxious enough to get the job, so they chose Alpheus G. 
Fuller. When he applied for admission to congress he 
would have to present a certificate from the territorial 
officers to show that he was duly elected. Very well, the 
county commissioners (Big Sioux county, it was called) 
supplied this. Unfortunately, congress refused to give 
him a seat or to recognize this territorial government. 
Nothing daunted, they continued it. 

The next year, 1859, the people elected a new legisla¬ 
ture, and Jefferson P. Kidder was chosen as delegate to 
congress. In September, 1859, Mr. McMasters died. 
Samuel J. Allbright was elected governor, but he refused 
to accept the position and soon left the territory. W. W. 
Brookings thereupon acted as governor. Still congress 
refused to recognize this government. It was not until 
1861 that congress made provisions for a lawful govern¬ 
ment in this region and, in the meantime, as we shall 
see later, a new Dakota region was obtained from the 
Indians and the people who established the new settle¬ 
ments had more influence with congress. In the mean¬ 
time, too, these settlers were sorely tried by some hostile 
Indians. 


CHAPTER XV 


MORE HOSTILE INDIANS 

INKPADUTA. Shortly after 1825 there lived about 
the lakes, near the present site of Madison, a band of out¬ 
lawed Indians. Their leader, Wamdesapa (wam-de-sa'- 
pa), had been driven from his home on the Minnesota 
river for murdering his brother, who was a joint ruler 
with him over the Wakpekutes. To him was born a son 
named Inkpaduta (Ink-pa-du'ta), who seemed to have 
inherited all of his father’s many vices, and added so many 
to them that he became a most terrible savage. 

When the treaty of 1851 was made, ceding to the 
whites the land east of the Big Sioux river, Inkpaduta’s 
band was not recognized and was to have no place in the 
payments to be made to the Indians ($1,665,000 was to 
be paid). Inkpaduta had committed many murders among 
the Wakpekutes before this time, but his hatred 
seemed now to be directed against the whites. He made 
many raids upon the white settlers in southwestern 
Minnesota and northwestern Iowa. 

Spirit Lake Massacre. In the spring of 1857, with his 
band of eleven men, Inkpaduta visited the settlement 
about Spirit Lake (Okoboji) and destroyed it, murdering 
over forty persons and taking as captives Mrs. Thatcher, 
Mrs. Marble, Mrs. Noble and Abigail Gardner. Mrs. 
Thatcher was brutally murdered while crossing the Big 
Sioux river near Flandreau. The other captives were 
taken to Lake Herman (west of Madison). Here two 
Christian Indians* were able to purchase the release of 

♦Greyfoot and Sounding Heavens. 

63 


64 SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 

Mrs. Marble. Inkpaduta took his captives into the James 
river valley and here sold them to a Yankton Indian. 
One of the sons of Inkpaduta dragged Mrs. Noble out 
from a tent and murdered her. When they arrived at the 
mouth of Snake creek (two miles south of Ashton) a 
rescuing party consisting of three Christian Indians* 
arrived and purchased the freedom of Miss Gardner. 
Judge Flandrau, with a small band of volunteers, at¬ 
tempted to capture Inkpaduta, but was unsuccessful. It 
is likely that if the government had taken vigorous steps 
to punish this renegade many if not all of the massacres 
of a few years later *(1862) would have been prevented. 

Settlers Build Fort. The settlers in the Big Sioux 
valley were threatened more or less by the Indians from 
the first. In the spring of 1858 some eastern Sioux In¬ 
dians under the leadership of Lean Dog and Smutty 
Bear drove the settlers away from Medary and threat¬ 
ened the settlers at Sioux Falls. These people were much 
alarmed and called a meeting of all the settlers, at which 
it was decided to defend themselves and their property. 
They erected a wall of logs and sod, calling it Fort Sod. 

Following are quotations from an interesting letter 
written by one of the settlers, James M. Allen, from Fort 
Sod, June 17, 1858: 

I ‘We now feel safe and are determined to resist the Indians and if 
necessary to fight them. We want to teach them that they cannot 
every season drive off the settlers on disputed land. 

‘ ‘ The new settlers, Mr. Goodwin and his wife, have moved into our 
old cabin, which is a wing of the store house, and Mrs. Goodwin has 
made a large flag out of all the old flannel shirts we could find and we 
now have the stars and stripes waving proudly over Fort Sod. 

“We are upon a military footing. Have organized a company (the 
undersigned first lieutenant), sentries and scouting parties, on duty 
day and night. All told we number thirty-five men for defense, not 
including the woman, and she can shoot a gun as well as any one. 

II The Dubuque Company’s agent, Brookings,* whose feet were 
frozen off last winter, will be brought to our house as soon as the 
Indians are reported in sight. We feel secure now and could fight 

♦Little Paul (Mazakutemane), John Other Day, and Iron Hawk. 


MORE HOSTILE INDIANS 


65 


600 Indians and even if the walls could be scaled, which is almost 
impossible, we could retreat into our store house, which is impreg¬ 
nable. 

“Those Yanktonais (Yank-to-ne') occupy the country northwest, 
towards the British possessions, and pretend to claim an interest in 
all the country owned and ceded by the Sioux Nation. The chiefs who 
were in Washington last winter are not with them. They have been 
told that a treaty has been made with the Yanktons, but they will not 
recognize it until the first payment has been made, and they even 
threaten to kill the chiefs for making the treaty. 

11 Four Sisseton Sioux came in last night, but hurried off when they 
heard of the Yanktonais coming. We sent letters to the Agency by 
them. 

“Weather hot; 90 odd degrees in the shade. 


“James M. Allen.’’ 


CHAPTER XVI 

SUCCESSFUL SETTLEMENTS 

Review. You will remember that in 1851 the whites 
secured their first title to Dakota land from the Indians. 
You will remember, too, that Captain Todd with others 
established a trading post for the Yankton Indians near 
the mouth of the James river. The year 1858 was the one 
in which Minnesota became a state and the Dakota coun¬ 
try was left without a government, save what we have 
called the “make # believe” government with Sioux Falls 
as the capital of a “hoped-for” territory. 

Second Indian Cession. Once more we must notice 
the year 1858. It was in this year that a treaty was made 
with the Yankton Indians, opening for settlement the 
splendid region* between the Big Sioux river and the 
Missouri river almost as far north as Pierre. A reserva¬ 
tion was made for the Indians in what now is Charles Mix 
county. This treaty was largely brought about through 
the influence of Captain Todd and C. F. Picotte and was 
signed by Charles E. Mix, United States Commissioner. 

Settlers Came. As soon as it became known that this 
fine country was to be opened for settlement a great many 
people made arrangements to enter the region. In the 
spring and early summer of the next year, 1859, hundreds 
of prospective settlers gathered along the south shore of 
the Missouri river, ready to enter into the promised land 
as soon as word was received that the treaty had been 
ratified. 


♦See the map showing the accessions of lands from Indians. 


SUCCESSFUL SETTLEMENTS 


67 


Yankton Council. In the meantime there was a divi¬ 
sion among the Yanktons as to this treaty. The whole 
tribe assembled July 10 at Yankton to counsel over the 
affair. Struck-by-the-Ree, always a loyal friend of the 
whites, urged that the Indians accept the treaty. Smutty 
Bear, the chief of the Yanktons, opposed it and urged the 
young braves to fight if need be. Both of these leaders 
had their followers, and it is not difficult to imagine what 
trouble might have followed if something had not hap¬ 
pened just at that time. 

Supplies Received. Just when the excitement among 
the Yanktons was at its highest a steamboat whistle was 
heard. A new Indian agent* had arrived with a boat load 
of provisions. Of course the Indians were eager to get 
the provisions which the White Father, as they called 
the President, had sent them. The agent, however, was 
too sensible to distribute them there. He told the Indians 
to follow him to the reservation, where he would give 
them a great feast. The boat then steamed up the river, 
followed by all the Indians. This was considered by 
everyone as a sufficient ratification of the treaty. 

Settlement. Now that the Indians had left, the whites 
swarmed across the Missouri river. At once towns were 
started at Yankton, Vermillion, Bon Homme and Meck- 
ling, and claims for farms in this rich farming region were 
staked out. A few days later the town of Elk Point was 
started. 

Schools and Churches Established. We are told that 
on the very first Sunday the Norwegians about Meckling 
gathered for religious services, and during the following 
winter (1859-60) maintained a school in the upper story 
of a hotel. Early in January, 1860, Rev. Charles D. Mar¬ 
tin, a Presbyterian minister, held services in these set¬ 
tlements. His first service was held in Downer Bram- 


*A. H. Redfield. 


68 


SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


ble’s store in Yankton. For a pulpit he used a barrel of 
whiskey. Ministers in the Methodist Episcopal church 
and in the Episcopal church also held services in the set¬ 
tlements during the same year. The first church building 
was erected that year (1860) at Vermillion, built of logs. 
In May, of that same year, a small log school building 
was built at Bon Homme, the first to be erected in the 
territory. 

Newspapers. The first newspaper in this territory was 
the Dakota Democrat, which was published at Sioux 
Falls from 1859 to 1861. The first permanent newspaper 
was the Weekly Dakotaian, established June 6, 1861, at 
Yankton. The name was later changed to Press and 
Dakotan. A month or so later the Republican was estab¬ 
lished at Vermillion. 


CHAPTER XVII 


EARLY GOVERNMENT 

Territorial Plans. Here were hundreds of people with 
no organized form of government. It is not at all sur¬ 
prising that they began at once to plan for the organiza¬ 
tion of a territory. In this movement Captain Todd 
seems to have taken a most active part. 

11 These pioneers on the 8th of November, 1859, assembled in mass 
convention to petition congress for a territorial organization. A 
memorial was drafted and signed by the citizens of the territory, 
which was conveyed to Washington by J. B. S. Todd, calling the 
attention of the government to our situation. But the government 
appears to have looked with more surprise than compassion on these 
early political freaks of Dakotans. The session passed, congress 
adjourned, and amid the tumultuous preparation for a presidential 
election and the muttering thunders of a rising rebellion, Dakota was 
left ungoverned and unorganized. 

“Not to be discouraged by this partial failure, the pioneers assem¬ 
bled again in mass convention at Yankton, December 27, 1860, and 
again on January 15, 1861, and prepared an earnest and lengthy 
memorial to congress, which was signed by 578 citizens and forwarded 
to the speaker of the house and the president of the senate. Again 
a cloud hung dark over Dakota’s prayer. A new president had been 
elected—the old power was retiring, a new one advancing—and the 
rebellion, which but the year before was muttering in smothered tones, 
had now burst forth in all its fury, and was bearing upon its mad¬ 
dening waves seven revolted states of the Unioij. But through the 
gathering darkness a ray of light was seen. The old power could 
organize, the new one appoint, and on the second day of March, 1861, 
President Buchanan approved the bill giving to Dakota a territorial 
government. 

11 The news did not reach Yankton until the thirteenth of the month, 
and on that night hats, hurrahs and town lots ‘went up’ to greet the 
dawning future of the Great Northwest .”—The Early Empire Build¬ 
ers of the Great West, by Moses K. Armstrong. 

Dakota Territory. On March 2, 1861, President James 
Buchanan signed an act of congress which created 

69 


70 


SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


Dakota Territory. While the law* provided that the 
area should extend to the Rocky Mountains the officials 
were given no authority over Indian lands, so the real 
Dakota Territory was not so large after all. The gov¬ 
ernment was provided for and sections sixteen and thirty- 
six in every township set aside for school purposes. 

Governor Jayne. President Lincoln appointed as the 
first governor of Dakota Territory William Jayne, who 
had been his family physician and neighbor at Spring- 
field, Illinois. He went to Yankton, where he established 
his residence in a little log cabin. His first official act 
was to provide for a census, or counting of all the white 
people in the territory. The total number was 2,402. He 
divided the territory into three judicial districts. He .also 
divided the territory into legislative districts and called 
an election to choose a legislature and a delegate to con¬ 
gress. Captain Todd was elected delegate. 

The First Legislature.*)* The first legislature was 
small, consisting of a council of nine members and a 
house of representatives of thirteen members. It met 
March 17, 1862, and among the laws passed were the 
location of the capital at Yankton, where it remained 
until 1883; the territorial university at Vermillion (no 
buildings were erected until 1882), and penitentiary at 
Bon Homme.{ While those were the very early days of 
civilized life in Dakota, it is interesting to note that this 
legislature incorporated “The Old Settlers’ Historical 
Association.” 


♦It is interesting to note that this law provided “that the river in said 
territory heretofore known as the ‘River aux Jacque,’ or ‘James river ’ 
shall hereafter be called the ‘Dakota river.’ ” But we still call it the 
James, or, more familiarly, the “Jim.” 

fin “The Early Empire Builders of the Great West,” Moses K. Armstrong 
alludes to this legislature as the “pony congress.” Apparently the naml 
did not cling, as the author has yet to find a single old-timer who knew 
anything about it, and he has interviewed several who were in Yankton at 
thaf time. 

tin 1881 the territorial legislature located the penitentiary at Sioux 
Falls. Buildings were erected the following year and twenty-nine prisoners 
taken from Detroit, Michigan, and placed therein. 













Fig. 60. The Old Governor Faulk 
House at Yankton, Built 

Gen. W. H. H. Beadle. in 1866. 




Fig. 61. The Famous School House at Vermillion, Built 1864 





EARLY GOVERNMENT 


71 


Government Organized. The justices of the territorial 
supreme court also acted as judges in the district courts, 
trying cases in the different counties. County govern¬ 
ments were organized, school districts were created, and 
towns and cities organized their local governments on the 
same general plan as today. 


CHAPTER XVIII 


THE CIVIL WAR 

The Civil War. In 1861, the same year that saw 
Dakota Territory organized, the terrible war between the 
North and the South broke out. For four long years this 
nation was engulfed in the great Civil War. In the 
spring of 1862 a company was raised with Nelson Miner 
as captain. It was decided by the war department to 
have these soldiers stay at home, as there was grave 
danger from the Indians. 

In 1862 the terrible outbreak occurred in Minnesota 
under the leadership of Little Crow, Inkpaduta and other 
Santee (eastern Sioux) Indians. Hundreds of whites 
were murdered. Judge Amidon and his son were mur¬ 
dered near Sioux Falls. Governor Jayne called for assist¬ 
ance and several hundred men responded. A large stock¬ 
ade was built at Yankton, to which settlers in Sioux Falls 
and throughout the Big Sioux valley went for safety. 
A large number of the whites fled from this region. Sev¬ 
eral companies of soldiers were organized. For a time all 
of the territorial officers were away and Captain Frank 
M. Ziebach was the ranking officer and because of the 
military authority which he exercised he has been spoken 
of as governor. 

Peace. After the massacre in Minnesota the Indians 
who took part in it fled to the Devils Lake region and to 
Canada. Troops were sent after them and several battles 
were fought in what is now North Dakota. When New- 

72 


THE CIVIL WAR 


73 


ton Edmunds* became governor of Dakota Territory in 
1863 the policy of the war department was to punish the 
Indians severely. Edmunds, however, believed that a 
peaceful policy was preferable and at length prevailed 
upon President Lincoln to compel the war department 
to adopt his plans. The troubles ceased at once. 

More Friendly Indians. Many of the Dakota Indians 
were bitterly opposed to the massacre of the whites. The 
Christian Indians among the Sissetons and Wahpetons 
did all they could to stop it and the Yanktons also proved 
friendly. Struck-by the Ree, or “Old Strike,” as he was 
popularly called, did noble service in these trying times. 

Governor Faulk, speaking later of Strike, said: 

“This venerable chief never quarreled with the whites, never stole 
from them, but lived and died at peace with them. He was really a 
great man. I have heard him in many a council, and once in a conver¬ 
sation with me he extended both his hands and said, in a voice and 
manner which I shall never forget: ‘Not a drop of white man’s blood 
is on these hands.’ It was a most touching scene.” 

A Noble Rescue. During the Minnesota massacres of 
1862 a settlement of about fifty persons at She.tak lake 
(Murray County, Minnesota) was destroyed by a chief 
named White Lodge. Two women and seven children 
were taken captives and carried by the savages to the 
Missouri river, near the mouth of the Grand river, where 
Mobridge now stands. Here they were rescued at great 
hazard and sacrifice by Martin Charger, a Christian half- 

*One incident illustrative of the fine character of Edmunds is related 
by Dr. William M. Blackburn in his “History of Dakota,” published in 
the South Dakota Historical Collections, Volume I. pp. 52, 53 : 

“On January morning, 1861, a stranger was viewing the lots of Yank¬ 
ton, mostly vacant, when fifteen of the hardest roughs employed in the 
river trade saw him passing the rude saloon of ‘a Mexican, a rebel.’ 
They urged him to drink unto them. He declined. They tried to pull him 
in. They excused him. He was Newton Edmunds. When the dread of 
Indian massacre came, the Mexican was not thought to be a safe man to 
dispense fire-water; the public sentiment was that the saloon must go. 
An officer was ordered to close it, but he refused. Mr. Edmunds stepped 
forward and asked that the order be given to him. He went to the 
Mexican and reasoned with him, insisting that he close his saloon at 
once. He received the keys immediately. This was the first known pro¬ 
hibition movement in Dakota, and the mover became territorial governor 
(1863-5) after Dr. Jayne.” 


74 SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 

breed, and a band of thirteen Indians. It was in the win¬ 
ter, the captives were half naked, they had but few 
blankets, only four guns, and almost no food and were 
100 miles from hope of assistance, and in addition to this 
one of the women had been shot in the foot and was lame. 
They succeeded, however, in reaching Fort Pierre. 

A Notable Ride. In 1866 a mixed-blood Sisseton 
youth, Samuel J. Brown, who was chief of a band of 
friendly Indian scouts, received word at Fort Sisseton 
that a hostile party was advancing southward down the 
James river. He arranged to have a message sent to 
Fort Abercrombie, in the Red River valley. Then he 
galloped across the prairie, fifty-five miles to another 
scouting camp located on the present site of Ordway 
(Brown County). When he arrived there he learned that 
it was a false alarm, and fearing the dispatch to Fort 
Abercrombie would cause uneasiness and thinking he 
might reach Fort Sisseton again before the message there 
left the next morning, he at once mounted another pony 
and started back. On the way, however, a terrible bliz¬ 
zard began and when daylight came he found himself 
twenty-five miles south of the fort. He turned again into 
the face of the blinding storm and at length reached Fort 
Sisseton in time to forestall the message to the Red River 
valley. Upon his arrival he fell from his pony, paralyzed, 
to remain a cripple the rest of his life.* 

♦The author endeavored to secure for Mr. Brown a Carnegie medal, 
but, though the heroism was unquestioned, the act did not fall into any of 
the classes for which the medal is awarded. 


CHAPTER XIX 


A STEADY GROWTH 

Many Settlers Come. Even during the troublous times 
of the Civil War many settlers came to Dakota. Some¬ 
times they came in groups or “colonies.” In 1864 a 
colony of sixty families came all the way from New York 
to settle here. Their leader was a teacher named James 
S. Foster, who later was placed at the head of the schools 
of the territory and held other important positions. Oc¬ 
casionally the crops were poor and the grasshoppers 
came, but, on the whole, the people slowly prospered. 

Political Events. There were many exciting elections 
and scrambles for office, and many changes in the various 
offices. After William Jayne had been governor nearly 
two years he was a candidate for delegate to congress. 
Opposed to him was General Todd. After some dispute 
about the election returns Todd was declared elected and 
Governor Jayne left the territory. In his stead came 
Newton Edmunds, who remained governor during the 
remainder of the Civil War and until 1866. We have 
already noted his successful “peace policy” in Indian 
affairs. The next governor was Andrew J. Faulk of 
Pennsylvania, who remained in this office until 1869, 
being succeeded by Governor John A. Burbank of 
Indiana, who served until 1874. 

Newspaper Items. A few items taken from the Sioux 
City Times* during the year 1869 may be interesting here. 

June 3: “Eight hundred Norwegians are en route 


♦Quoted from “History of South Dakota,” by Doane Robinson, Vol. I, 
p. 242. 

75 


76 


SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


between Chicago and Sioux City, bound for Dakota.” 
“Brink and Sales’ steamboat blew up near Vermillion 
last week.” “Claims are being rapidly taken above 
Bloomingdale and about Canton in Lincoln County.” 
“Governor Burbank has assurances that there will be 
no Indian troubles in Dakota this year.” 

June 8: “C. H. True, editor of the Vermillion Repub¬ 
lican, and General W. H. H. Beadle, surveyor general of 
Dakota, arrived here from their homes on Sunday and 
on Wednesday left for the east. We found these men 
to be the living embodiments and ideal representatives 
of western men; courteous, independent, well posted and 
with an unflinching superabundance of confidence in the 
future growth and development of the country which 
they represent.” 

June 15: “Several correspondents from Elk Point, 
Vermillion and Yankton discuss the unparalleled growth 
and prosperity of the territory.” “Hon. George H. Hand 
has been ousted from the office of Attorney General of 
Dakota.” “Judge Boyles of Dakota has gone to Wash¬ 
ington to see (President) Grant about continuing in 
office.” 

July 14: “Crops in Dakota are in excellent condition. 
Vegetation is the most luxuriant ever witnessed, even in 
Dakota.” 

Telegraph and Railroad. In 1870 a telegraph line was 
built from Sioux City to Yankton and the next year a 
railway company made plans to extend a-railroad from 
Sioux City to Yankton. The year following, 1872, saw 
this railroad* as far as Vermillion and early in the next 
year it reached Yankton. 

Yankton Academy. Rev. Joseph Ward, a Congrega¬ 
tional minister, came to Yankton in 1868. In 1870 he 

♦In the same year the North-Western railroad was extended as far west 
as Lake Kampeska, but it was simply built to hold a land grant and was 
not operated until 1879. 


A STEADY GROWTH 


77 


taught a private school and in 1871 organized Yankton 
Academy. The following year a building was erected. 
This was the beginning of Yankton College, which was 
founded in 1881, beginning work Oct. 6, 1882, with Dr. 
Ward as its first president. 


CHAPTER XX 


THE BLACK HILLS WAR 

Red Cloud War. At the close of the Civil War the 
United States decided to build a road through eastern 
Wyoming to the gold fields of Montana and Idaho. The 
Tetons were opposed to this, as it was certain that their 
buffalo herds would soon be driven away or destroyed. 
Red Cloud, a chief of the Oglalas, was the leader in their 
opposition. For two years, 1866-68, fighting was kept up 
with considerable loss of life. 

A few days before Christmas, 1866, an entire detach¬ 
ment of 81 men under Captain Fetterman was killed by 
the Indians. At length the United States gave up the 
attempt to secure this highway, abandoned the forts built 
there and made a treaty with the Indians in 1868 agree¬ 
ing that no white man should “pass over, settle upon or 
reside in” a large tract of land including the Black Hills 
region. 

The Lure of Gold. For many years there had been 
rumors of the finding of gold in the Black Hills. Several 
attempts were made by gold seekers to enter this region, 
reserved to the Indians. One such expedition was 
planned on a big scale. It was to start from Sioux City 
September 1, 1872. General Hancock, then in command 
at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, sent the following orders to 
the post commanders on the Missouri river: “That any 
expedition organized for the purpose of penetrating the 
Black Hills be immediately dispersed, the leaders arrested 
and placed in the nearest military prison.” While that 
ended this particular movement, it did not stop the 

78 


THE BLACK HILLS WAR 


79 


desires of people to get the wealth supposed to be stored 
in that region. 

Gold Discovered. In the summer of 1874 General 
George A. Custer was sent with 1,200 soldiers to examine 
the Black Hills region. A number of scientists and 
miners were with him. Their main camp was on the site 
of the present city of Custer. About two and one-half 
miles from there, on the French creek, a member of the 
party named William F. McKay discovered gold, Au¬ 
gust 2. 

Custer sent a glowing report concerning this beautiful 
region, as the following quotation will show: 

* c In no private or public park have I ever seen such a profuse 
display of flowers. We encamped in the midst of grazing whose only 
fault, if any, was the great luxuriance. I know of no portion of our 
country where nature has done so much to prepare homes. The soil 
is that of a rich garden. Gold has been found at several places, and it 
is the belief of those who are giving attention to this subject that it 
will be found in paying quantities. The miners report that they found 
gold among the roots of the grass. On some of the water courses 
almost every panful of earth produced gold in small yet paying quan¬ 
tities. 11 


Attempt to Enforce Treaty. It is no wonder that such 
a report caused great excitement, and that thousands of 
people were eager to enter that wonderful country. 
Three unsuccessful attempts had already been made at 
Yankton to send expeditions to the Hills. Now a big 
movement was launched to send several hundred men 
up the Missouri river to Pierre and thence across the 
plains to the Hills. A campaign of advertising the Yank¬ 
ton route was agreed upon. In a very short time, how¬ 
ever, a military official heard of this and of a similar Sioux 
City project and took steps to prevent any such expedi¬ 
tion. General Sheridan issued the following order to 
General Terry: “Should any companies now organizing 
at Sioux City and Yankton trespass upon the Sioux reser¬ 
vation you are hereby directed to use the force at your 


80 SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 

command to burn their wagon trains, destroy the outfits 
and arrest the leaders, confining them at the nearest mili¬ 
tary post in the Indian country.” In spite of these warn¬ 
ings a small party started up the Niobrara river, where 
they met a band of Indians, who killed one of their num¬ 
ber. The others returned to Yankton. This ended the 
movement at Yankton for the time being. 

The Gordon Expedition. At Sioux City an expedition 
was fitted out under the leadership of John Gordon. They 
made believe they were going into Nebraska to take up 
land. The party consisted of twenty-eight persons. They 
left Sioux City October 6, 1874. Mrs. Annie D. Tallent* 
was the only woman in the group. Their supplies and 
equipment were carried in six canvas covered wagons 
drawn by oxen. After having many adventures they 
arrived near the present site of Custer December 23, 
built a stockade and camped there. In February Mr. 
Gordon and a companion returned bringing gold with 
them as evidence of their success. This added greatly 
to the excitement and interest in gold mining projects. 
Some soldiers were sent out to the Hills to remove the 
party and take them as prisoners to Fort Laramie. This 
was done in April, 1875. “Now some may come to the 
conclusion that the pioneers of 1874 were regular fili¬ 
busters ; but no, they were neither filibusters, freebooters, 
nor pirates, but peaceable, law-abiding citizens of the 
United States; however, ‘with keen eyes to the main 
chance/ ” 

Proposed Treaty. The government of the United 
States, realizing that it would be practically impossible 
to keep people from that country, made an effort to buy 
or lease the Black Hills from the Indians. The latter, 
however, refused all of the offers of the whites and pro- 

♦A most interesting account of this is given by Mrs. Tallent in her 
book, “The Black Hills.” 


THE BLACK HILLS WAR 


81 


posed too high terms. The commissioners proposed that 
after the precious metals had been mined the whites 
would withdraw from the region. Again the Indians 
refused all propositions. 

Rush to the Diggings. Immediately all efforts on the 
part of the soldiers to prevent the whites from entering 
were abandoned and the ‘Tush for the gold diggings” 
began. By the first of the following March (1876) there 
were 11,000 white people in and about Custer. In the fall 
of 1875 John B. Pearson had discovered the rich deposits 
in Deadwood gulch in the northern hills. In the spring 
news of this spread to Custer and there was a great rush 
northward. Deadwood then became the center of the 
gold mining industry and still later, Lead. 

Indians Prepare for War. The warriors and young 
men among the Indians, two or three thousand of them, 
began to gather in large bands near the Big Horn moun¬ 
tains in Montana and Wyoming. Their leaders were 
Red Cloud, Crazy Horse, Gall, Black Moon and the terri¬ 
ble Inkpaduta. Sitting Bull, a noted “medicine man,” 
was also among them. The government at once sent 
word to the Indians to return to their reservations or 
they would be regarded as “hostiles.” They paid no 
attention to this warning, but continued their preparation 
for an attack on the people in the Black Hills. 

Battle of Little Big Horn. Armies were sent against 
the hostile Indians. General Crook advanced from the 
south, but was defeated at the Rosebud-river, Montana, 
by Indians under the leadership of Crazy Horse. General 
Terry advanced from the east (from Fort Abraham Lin¬ 
coln, near Bismarck, North Dakota). A detachment of 
Terry's troops of 800 men was under command of Gen¬ 
eral George A. Custer. General Custer followed a trail 
of the Indians over to the valley of the Little Big Horn 


82 


SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


river, Montana. In planning his attack upon the Indians 
Custer separated his force into three divisions, one under 
Captain Benteen, another under Major Reno, the third 
under his own command. Major Reno attacked the 
Indians, but was nearly surrounded by them and com¬ 
pelled to retreat, joining Captain Benteen’s divison. Gen¬ 
eral Custer was farther down the valley. He attacked the 
Indians and became completely surrounded by them and 
Custer and every one of his force of 261 men were killed. 
Black Moon, the chief in general charge of all the Indian 
warriors, was also killed. He was succeeded by Gall. 
The Indians were short of ammunition so did not follow 
up their victories. The leaders afnong them escaped into 
Canada, the others gradually returned to their reserva¬ 
tions, where their arms were taken from them. 

Battle of Slim Buttes. The only severe fighting which 
occurred on South Dakota soil took place September 9 
and 10, 1876, at Slim Buttes (in the eastern part of Hard¬ 
ing county). On his return from Montana, from whence 
he was pursuing Sitting Bull and his band, General Crook 
had arrived at the headwaters of Heart river. Here he 
learned that a large number of hostiles were making for 
the Black Hills to massacre the settlers there. Although 
his men had food to last but two days and no fuel for 
cooking food and his horses were in poor condition, he 
at once started to protect the white settlers. 

In a report General Crook says: “The march of ten 
days was made on a little over two days’ rations, eighty 
odd miles over a country that had no wood, shrubbery 
or even weeds with which to make fires; ten days being in 
a deluging rain, the men having during that time not a 
dry blanket; the deep, sticky mud making a toilsome 
march, which for severity and hardships has but few 
parallels in the history of our army.” 


THE BLACK HILLS WAR 


83 


Major Anson Mills was sent on ahead with one hun¬ 
dred and fifty men having superior horses, to find the 
Black Hills, buy all the provisions he could and hurry 
back with them to meet the troops. Mills found a large 
Indian village, which he scattered to Slim Buttes. Here 
the Indians were reinforced by hundreds of warriors, 
many of whom had taken part in the battle with Custer. 
Other troops* came to the assistance of Mills. A sharp 
battle took place and the Indians were put to rout. The 
soldiers were warmly received by the people of the Black 
Hills, whom they had doubtless saved from a most ter¬ 
rible attack. 

Peace. In the fall of this memorable year (1876) a 
new treaty was made whereby the Indians deeded the 
entire Black Hills country and made other concessions 
in return for rations of beef or bacon, flour, corn, coffee, 
sugar and beans, to be issued regularly to them until 
they should be able to support themselves. In the mak¬ 
ing of this treaty the commissioners’ report of the sub¬ 
dued Indians, “They told their story of wrongs with such 
impressive earnestness that our cheeks crimsoned with 
shame/’ 

♦In his story of these events in his “Campaigning with Crook,” General 
Charles King says : “Some four hundred ponies had been captured with 
the village, rnd many a fire was lighted and many a suffering stomach was 
gladdened with a welcome change from horsemeat, tough and stringy, to 
rib roasts of pony, grass-fed, sweet and succulent.” 


CHAPTER XXI 


THE DAKOTA BOOM 

Population Increases. The period of growth from the 
Black Hills war until about 1885 has been called the 
Dakota* Boom. The increase in population was about 
five-fold, that is, there were five people here in 1885 to 
one person in 1876. 

Railroad Building. At the beginning of this period 
there was one short line of railroad in operation, from 
Sioux City to Yankton, about sixty miles. At the close 
of this period about two thousand miles were in operation. 

Cities. A large number of towns and cities sprang up 
along the rapidly extending railway lines. Aberdeen, 
Watertown, Mitchell, Huron, Pierre, Redfield, Webster, 
Milbank, Brookings, Madison and many other important 
cities were thriving. A great deal of rivalry existed 
among the cities and towns. This was increased by 
“county seat fights,” when two or more towns contested 
for the location of the county seat. 

Institutions. During this period a great many school 
houses were built. Colleges and academies were estab¬ 
lished. Churches were built and clergymen of a great 
many denominations ministered to the spiritual welfare 
of the people. Corrective and penal institutions were also 
established. 

A Long Winter. The winter of 1880-1 was memorable 
for its setting in with a blizzard which brought deep 
snows the middle of October, which covered the ground 
all winter. Trains found it impossible to make headway 
in the drifts. There was considerable suffering owing 

84 


THE DAKOTA BOOM 


85 


to the lack of fuel and provisions. It is estimated that 
a total of twelve feet of snow fell during the winter, and 
when it melted in the spring there were heavy floods in 
the valleys and lowlands, particularly along the lower 
portions of the James and Vermillion rivers and on the 
flood plains of the Missouri. Great quantities of ice ac¬ 
cumulated at the mouth of the James river, forming a 
huge barrier and increasing the flooded area. The city 
of Yankton was badly flooded and the village of Green 
Island, opposite, wAs completely submerged. When the 
ice jam broke a terrific flood occurred all along the Mis¬ 
souri bottom land. The town of Vermillion, then located 
on the flood plain, was completely swept away and had to 
be built up again on the beautiful upland adjacent. 
Thousands of acres of valuable farm land were destroyed, 
as well as buildings and much live stock. Owing to 
extreme precautions but few lives were lost. 

Governors. In January, 1874, John L. Pennington, of 
Alabama, became governor, serving until 1878. He was 
succeeded by Governor William A. Howard of Michigan. 
Mr. Howard died in 1880 and George H. Hand acted as 
governor for six months, when Nehemiah G. Ordway, of 
New Hampshire, became governor, serving until 1884. 
We shall note Governor Ordway presently in connection 
with the removal of the capital from Yankton to Bis¬ 
marck. 

School Lands. About 1879 there was some talk of sell¬ 
ing a large amount of the school lands to a land company. 
The price that could be obtained at that time was very 
low, about two or three dollars an acre. Many of the far- 
seeing pioneers, however, realized that the price was cer¬ 
tain to advance and that it would not be a wise policy 
to sell these lands at a low price. General William Henry 
Harrison Beadle, for six years superintendent of public 
instruction (1879-85), became the leader in this move- 


86 


SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


ment. He traveled all over the territory, visiting schools 
and speaking at teachers’ institutes and public gatherings, 
and on every occasion urged the people to “save the 
school lands.” A strong sentiment was created, which 
later resulted in a provision that no school lands should 
be sold for less than ten dollars per acre. To commemo¬ 
rate his noble work a beautiful marble statue has been 
placed in the state capitol building at Pierre, the gift of 
the school children of the state. 

Capital Removed. Several attempts* had been made 
to secure the removal of the capital of the territory from 
Yankton. None of these were successful until in 1883. 
Governor Ordway was very anxious to have the capital 
removed to a more central location in the territory. In 
the legislature which met that year there were quite a 
number of men who favored the removal of the capital to 
some such city as Huron, Bismarck, Pierre, Fargo, 
Mitchell or Sioux Falls. It was impossible to reach an 
agreement, however. At length the .governor proposed 
that a commission be chosen to locate the capital at the 
town making the best offer of land and money with which 
to build a capitol. This was agreed to and the legislature 
appointed a commission of nine men and gave them 
authority to select a site for a permanent capital, receive 
money and land from places desiring the capital and to 
build capitol buildings. 

The commissioners were Milo W. Scott of Grand 
Forks, Burleigh F. Spaulding of Fargo, Alex. McKenzie 
of Bismarck, Charles H. Myers of Redfield, George A. 
Mathews of Brookings, Alexander Hughes of Pierre, 
H. H. DeLong of Canton, J. P. Belding of Deadwood and 
M. D. Thompson of Vermillion. After taking trips to 
various points in the territory and receiving bids the com- 

♦ Strange as it may seem, the first of these was started in the legislature 
of 1866 by none other than General Todd, one of the founders of Yankton. 


THE DAKOTA BOOM 


87 


mission selected Bismarck, which became the capital dur¬ 
ing the remainder of the territorial period, and the capital 
of North Dakota in 1889. 

Appropriations for Institutions. The legislature of 
1883 made itself famous by appropriating what was then 
considered the enormous sum of $304,500, for the fol¬ 
lowing institutions: Territorial University* at Vermil¬ 
lion, $30,000; North Dakota University at Grand Forks, 
$30,000; Agricultural! College at Brookings, $25,000; im¬ 
provements at penitentiary at Sioux Falls, $30,000; a new 
penitentiary at Bismarck, $50,000; improvements at hos¬ 
pital for insane at Yankton, $77,500; a new hospital for 
the insane at Jamestown, $50,000; a school for deaf mutes 
at Sioux Falls, $12,000. 

♦It should be remembered that this university was founded as early a3 
1862, but this was the first appropriation made by the legislature for its 
use. While the legislature was in session in 1883, a building was being 
erected by means of money raised by Clay county. School work was 
started there October 15, 1882. 

fThe legislature had established the agricultural college two years before 
but made no appropriations for it. School work was started in the fall 
of 1884. Later the name was changed to “State College of Agriculture and 
Mechanic Arts.” 



CHAPTER XXII 


DIVISION AND STATEHOOD 

Division of Territory. We have already noted some 
changes which were made in the area of Dakota Terri¬ 
tory. Many attempts were made to secure further divi¬ 
sion. Several times the territorial legislature petitioned 
congress to divide the territory. 

Dakota Citizens League. A very large number of the 
people in the southeastern part favored the division of the 
territory. Many thought, too, that the time had now 
arrived when a state should be made out of the southern 
half of the territory. To further this movement for divi¬ 
sion and statehood the “Dakota Citizens’ League” was 
formed at Canton in June, 1882. The leaders in this 
movement believed, too, that they could best save the 
school lands by the formation of a state, including a safe¬ 
guard for the sale of school lands in the constitution. A 
strong committee was appointed to further these impor¬ 
tant projects. 

Constitution of 1883. The territorial legislature of 
1883 passed a bill providing for a convention to frame a 
constitution for the southern half of Dakota. This bill 
was vetoed by Governor Ordway, so the Citizens’ League 
called a convention to be held at Huron on June 19th of 
that year. This convention passed resolutions and pro¬ 
vided for a constitutional convention to be held at Sioux 
Falls on September 4, 1883. Provision was made for 
the election of 150 delegates from the counties in what is 
now South Dakota. This movement was hastened by 
the removal of the territorial capital to Bismarck, to the 

88 


DIVISION AND STATEHOOD 


89 


great displeasure of the people in the southern part of 
the territory. The convention was held, Bartlett Tripp 
being elected its president. It remained in session four¬ 
teen days and framed a constitution much like the one 
we now have, though very different in some particulars. 
Thus the state seal provided for was described as follows: 

“A shield draped with the American flag, depending from the 
beak of an eagle. In the background of the shield, a range of hills 
and the chimney of a smelting furnace. In the center of the shield, 
a river, bearing a steamboat. On the hither bank of the river, a train 
of cars. In the middle foreground, a field of wheat and a field of corn. 
In the immediate right foreground, a white man at his plow; in the 
left foreground, an Indian and tepees. Both white man and Indian 
are looking at a rift in the clouds where appears the legend: *Fear 
God and Tale Your Own Part This legend shall be the motto of the 
State of Dakota .’’ 

Constitution of 1885. Congress refused consent to the 
admission, however, and in 1885 the territorial legislature 
provided for another constitutional convention for the 
portion of the territory south of the 46th parallel. In 
conformity with this provision, 101 delegates were elected 
June 30th and met at Sioux Falls, September 8th, remain¬ 
ing in session sixteen days. Alonzo J. Edgerton, chief 
justice of the supreme court of the territory, was elected 
president of the convention. A constitution was carefully 
prepared, being the one which, with a few changes, later 
became that for the state. In November the people rati¬ 
fied it by a vote of 25,226 for and 6,565 against. Huron 
was chosen as capital, and a full set of state officers, with 
Arthur C. Mellette as governor, and two members of con¬ 
gress, Oscar S. Gifford and Theodore D. Kanouse, were 
elected. The legislature for South Dakota met at Huron 
in December and chose two United States senators, 
Gideon C. Moody and Alonzo J. Edgerton. Congress, 
however, refused to approve of this action, and again the 
efforts of the people to secure statehood were unsuc¬ 
cessful. 


90 SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 

Governors. In 1884 Gilbert A. Pierce of Illinois was 
appointed governor by the President of the United States. 
In January, 1887, he resigned and Louis K. Church of 
New York became governor, serving until the spring of 
1889. Arthur C. Mellette of Watertown was then ap¬ 
pointed governor, but, as we shall soon see, he had but a 
few months to serve as governor of Dakota Territory as 
on November 2 of that year South Dakota and North 
Dakota became states. 

The Enabling Act of 1889.. At length congress was 
willing to divide Dakota Territory into two parts and 
permit each to form a state government. The law which 
was passed by congress and approved by President Cleve¬ 
land, February 22, 1889, provided for this and was en¬ 
titled : 

“AN ACT to provide for the division of Dakota 
into two states*and to enable the people of 
North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and 
Washington to form constitutions and state 
governments, and to be admitted into the 
Union on an equal footing with the original 
states, and to make donations of public lands 
to such states.” 

Line Separating Dakotas. .The dividing line selected 
for Dakota was not the 46th parallel, as had been for¬ 
merly proposed, but the 7th standard parallel or “cor¬ 
rection line” of the land survey. This is about four miles 
south of the 46th parallel, and east of the Missouri river 
it was a section line, a township line, and for nearly all 
counties, a county line. The 46th parallel passes right 
through sections and townships, and had it been chosen 
there would have been many farms partly in North 
Dakota and partly in South Dakota. 


DIVISION AND STATEHOOD 


91 


Provisions of the Enabling Act. Provision was made 
for readopting, if desired, the constitution of 1885, “with 
such changes only as relate to the name and boundary 
of the proposed state, to the reapportionment of the 
judicial and legislative districts, and such amendments 
as may be necessary in order to comply with the provi¬ 
sions of this act.” 

Following are some other provisions of the enabling 
act, none of which can be changed without the consent 
of congress and of the people of the state: 

1 1 The constitution shall be republican in form and make no distinc¬ 
tion in civil or political rights on account of race or color, except as 
to Indians not taxed, and not be repugnant to the constitution of the 
United States and the principles of the Declaration of Independence.’’ 

“Perfect toleration of religious sentiment shall be secured.” 

“The state must disclaim any right to United States lands and 
Indian reservations, and the right to tax United States lands or 
property . 1 ’ 

“Lands belonging to non-resident citizens of the United States 
shall not be taxed at a higher rate than those of residents. * 1 

“Provisions shall be made for the establishment and maintenance 
of systems of public schools, which shall be open to all children of the 
state, and free from sectarian control.” 

“Lands granted by the United States for educational purposes 
shall be disposed of only at public sale and at a price not less than ten 
dollars an acre. The proceeds of the sale of these lands shall constitute 
‘a permanent school fund, the interest of which only shall be expended 
in support of said schools. ’ ” To the permanent common school fund 
is also added five per cent of the net proceeds of the sale of all United 
States lands within the state. ’ ’ 

Many thousands of acres of public lands were given 
to the state by the United States for educational, chari¬ 
table and other public purposes. Besides the two sections 
in each township for the common schools, there were 
given lands as follows: 

“For the use and support of agricultural colleges, 120,000 acres; 
for the agricultural college, 40,000 acres; for the state university, 
86,080 acres; for the state normal schools, 80,000 acres; for a state 
capitol, 82,000 acres; 40,000 acres each to the school of mines, the 
reform school, the school for deaf mutes; for such other educational 
and charitable institutions as the legislature may determine, 170,000 
acres. ’ ’ 


92 SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 

Constitutional Convention of 1889. In accordance with 
the terms of the Enabling Act, seventy-six delegates were 
elected in May, and these met at Sioux Falls on July 4, 
1889. Alonzo J. Edgerton was elected president of the 
convention. Thirty-two days were spent in deliberation 
and the constitution of 1885 was amended to meet the 
requirements of the Enabling Act. This constitution was 
submitted to a vote of the people on October 1st and was 
adopted by a vote of 70,131 for to 3,267 against. 

At the same election state officers were elected, with 
Arthur C. Mellette as governor, and two members of 
congress, Oscar S. Gifford and J. A. Pickier. 

SEPABATE ABTICLES .—Together with the constitution, two sep¬ 
arate articles were submitted to a vote. One provided for the prohi¬ 
bition of the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquor. This was 
adopted but was repealed in 1896. The other was on minority repre¬ 
sentation, providing that where there are several representatives to be 
elected in one district a voter might divide his votes. Thus, if three 
representatives were to be elected from a district, a voter might cast 
three votes for one candidate, or two for one candidate and one for 
another candidate, or one vote for each of three candidates. This 
article was not adopted. 

Admission of South Dakota. The Enabling Act pro¬ 
vided that if the constitution and government were repub¬ 
lican in form, and if all of the provisions of the Enabling 
Act were complied with, it should be the duty of the 
President of the United States to proclaim the admission 
of the state, after which it should be deemed admitted 
by congress into the Union “on an equal footing with the 
original states.” On November 2,* 1889, President Ben¬ 
jamin Harrison issued a proclamation announcing the 
admission of South Dakota as a state. Thus was born 
this “Republic of Friends” into the family of states which 
make the great republic of the United States. 

♦On the very day of admission there died at Yankton one of the noblest 
men who came to Dakota in the early days, Rev. Dr. Joseph Ward. He 
had labored hard for many a noble cause and will ever be remembered as 
the author of our inspiring state motto: “Under God the People Rule.” 


CHAPTER XXIII 


HARD TIMES AND INDIAN TROUBLES 

Poor Crops. The last year of the territorial period 
(1889) was one of the driest ever known in this region 
and the first year of statehood (1890) was also bad. 
Many were the failures due to the bad crop conditions. 
There were many other causes of failure. The “boom” 
period was over. During the excitement of the rapid 
growth, when people were pouring in by thousands and 
towns were springing up like magic, many speculators 
came and many, too, who had little experience in the 
work they undertook. The farmers depended almost 
entirely on their wheat crops and many did not know 
how to farm well. It was hard to borrow money to tide 
over the “lean” years and many were the failures. 

The Messiah Craze. Just at this time, too, came 
Indian troubles west of the Missouri river. A strange 
religious craze took possession of them. The religious 
movement started in Nevada, where an Indian claimed 
to be a Messiah or Christ and to have heavenly visions. 
He claimed that he had come to restore the dead to life, 
to bring back the buffalo, and to drive away the whites. 
He taught them a new dance called a ghost dance. The 
dancers fasted, took a “sweat bath,” and then with many 
superstitious ceremonies started to dance. This was 
kept up until the dancers fell exhausted. At first there 
was nothing warlike in connection with the religion or 
practices. 

The Tetons at Pine Ridge agency sent a committee, 
headed by Short Bull, to investigate this religion. They 

93 


94 SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 

came back converted to the new faith and began to preach 
it and to change the religion. Red Cloud, Sitting Bull 
and other leading Indians soon took up the new religion. 

Discontent Among the Indians. In this same year 
(1889) a new treaty had been made with these Indians 
whereby they ceded* nearly all the land between the 
White river and the Cheyenne river and a big strip of 
land in the northwest. Red Cloud, Sitting Bull and other 
Indian leaders had objected to this and made prophesies 
of woe and want, which they said would follow. You 
will remember, too, that this was a year of drought and 
crop failure and the next year was also. Then, too, as 
though everything were conspiring to fulfil the dire 
prophesies, the Indian department began to give fewer 
supplies to the Indians. A general discontent prevailed 
among them and the new religion began to take a dan¬ 
gerous turn. The Indian agents tried to suppress the 
craze, which became alarming in the summer of 1890, 
especially the exciting ghost dance, but were not suc¬ 
cessful. 

Troops Sent. At length it was decided to send troops 
into the Indian country to prevent a serious uprising. 
General Nelson A. Miles, who had successfully dealt with 
Indians for many years, was placed in command. On 
the coming of the troops a large number of the Indians 
under the lead of Short Bull and Kicking Bear fled to 
the badlands, where it would be difficult to dislodge 
them. On the way they destroyed the houses of the 
Indians who had remained friendly to the whites. 

Sitting Bull. Sitting Bull was the most influential 
Indian at that time, and, unfortunately, his influence was 
always opposed to the civilization and ideals of the 
whites. Indeed, he was rather proud of his hostility. 
When in 1881 he was returned to the United States from 

♦See the map showing accessions of lands from Indians. 


HARD TIMES AND INDIAN TROUBLES 


95 


Canada, whither he fled after the Black Hills war, he 
said: “I wish it to be remembered that I am the last man 
of my tribe to give up my rifle.” In October, 1890, in the 
midst of a dance at his camp on the Grand river he delib¬ 
erately broke the “pipe of peace” which he had kept in his 
house since that time. 

Arrest and Death. It became very apparent that he 
was bent upon mischief and it was decided to have him 
arrested and taken away from his people. Forty-three 
Indian policemen, supported by soldiers, were sent to 
arrest him. At break of day, December 15, 1890, he was 
awakened and told that he must go to the agency. He 
started to leave the house when he saw a large number 
of his Indian guards, one hundred and fifty or more, who 
had surrounded the house and the police. He called to 
them to defend him. At once they fired and a brisk battle 
occurred in which Sitting Bull and seven of his followers 
and six Indian policemen were killed. The policemen 
held the hostiles at bay until the soldiers came a few 
hours later to rescue them. 

Big Foot. After the death of Sitting Bull many of his 
followers fled southward and joined the Indians on the 
Cheyenne river. Hump, the chief of the principal band 
there, was induced to surrender. The only leader left 
in that vicinity was Big Foot, who had a band of about 
400. Soldiers who went out to see him and induce him 
to surrender found him friendly and willing to go to the 
agency. His people, however, were told that other sol¬ 
diers were coming after them and they became so fright¬ 
ened that they fled southward toward Pine Ridge. 

Battle of Wounded Knee. On the 28th of December 
(1890) Big Foot and his band were overtaken by troops 
at Wounded Knee, creek, about twenty miles southeast 
of Pine Ridge agency. The Indians promptly surren¬ 
dered. They were completely surrounded by the sol- 


96 


SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


diers, about four hundred and seventy altogether. Four 
machine guns were trained on the camp. 

The next morning arrangements were made to take 
from the warriors their guns. Big Foot was ill of pneu¬ 
monia, and Colonel Forsyth, in command of the troops, 
sent his surgeon to wait on him and provided a tent 
warmed with a camp stove for his reception. The war¬ 
riors, numbering about one hundred and six, were or¬ 
dered to come out of their tepees. They were then told 
to get their guns and surrender them. Only two guns 
were produced, so the soldiers were ordered to within 
ten yards of the camp while a detachment searched the 
tepees. The warriors, however, had concealed under 
their blankets rifles, revolvers, knives, and clubs. 

While the soldiers were searching the tents, which nat¬ 
urally excited the women and children as well as the 
soldiers, Yellow Bird, a “medicine man,” went around 
among the warriors blowing a bone whistle and urging 
them to fight. He said that they had on their sacred 
“ghost shirts”; the soldiers’ bullets would be powerless. 
As he spoke in the Dakota language the soldiers did not 
realize what was going on. Suddenly Yellow Bird 
stooped down and seized a handful of dust and threw it 
into the air. At this signal an Indian drew from under 
his blanket his rifle and fired at the soldiers. 

Immediately the soldiers returned his fire. The In¬ 
dians were thoroughly armed and a terrible conflict took 
place. The machine guns were put into action. “The 
guns poured in two-pound explosive shells at the rate of 
nearly fifty per minute, mowing down everything alive.”* 
In a few minutes two hundred Indian men, women and 
children and about sixty soldiers were lying dead and 
wounded. The surviving Indians fled in wild panic up a 
ravine, pursued by the maddened soldiers and followed 

•Department of History Collections, South Dakota, Vol. IT, p. 494. 


HARD TIMES AND INDIAN TROUBLES 97 

up by a raking fire from the machine guns which had been 
moved into position to sweep the ravine. 

Many have criticized the soldiers for the killing of so 
many Indians, especially the women and children. In 
defense it is urged that many of the soldiers were new 
recruits, unfamiliar with the Indians, and it was impos¬ 
sible to distinguish warriors from women. The attack 
by the Indians was entirely unprovoked, though they had 
no intention, at first, of resisting the soldiers. 

Peace. General Miles had received the surrender of 
many of the leaders of these same Indians after the Black 
Hills war and had their confidence and respect. After a 
few minor engagements between the soldiers and Indians 
he was able to persuade the leaders to come in and sur¬ 
render. On January 12, 1891, the whole body of nearly 
four thousand Indians had moved within sight of the 
Pine Ridge agency. Four days later they surrendered 
and gave up their guns (totalling between six and seven 
hundred). They were then given a big feast, the first 
full meal they had enjoyed in weeks, and that night joy 
and content reigned in the seven hundred and forty-two 
tepees. The “Messiah War” was at an end. 

Indian Progress. Since this time perfect peace and 
harmony have existed between the whites and Indians 
in this state. Marked progress has been made by the 
Indians. Nearly all wear clothing like white people; 
most of them have comfortable houses and many of 
them as prosperous. The Sissetons occupy citizen com¬ 
munities in Roberts and Marshall counties; the Yank- 
tons, in Charles Mix county; and a portion of the Santees, 
in Moody county. Other Indians are located on Indian 
reservations.* 

♦See the map showing accessions of lands from Indians. 


CHAPTER XXIV 


LATER DEVELOPMENT 

Governor Mellette. It will be remembered that in 
1885 the people of the southern part of Dakota Territory 
adopted a constitution and elected Arthur C.' Mellette 
of Watertown as governor. This proceeding was not 
approved by congress. He became the last territorial 
governor/ serving ,as such in 1889. In the fall of that 
year our present state constitution was adopted and Gov¬ 
ernor Mellette was elected as the first governor of the 
state of South Dakota. The next year, 1890,* there was 
another election and he was again chosen governor. This 
was the period of the very hard times and the Messiah 
War. 

Pierre Made Capital. In the election of 1889 Pierre 
was chosen as temporary capital of the state and in the 
election of 1890 was made the permanent capital. We 
shall notice later that this was not altogether satisfactory. 

Australian Ballot. The legislature of 1891 adopted 
the system of voting known as the Australian ballot. 
With some modifications it is the one in use today. Be¬ 
fore this time it was often possible to know how an 
elector voted, as each political party had its own separate 
ballot. The new system provided that all party “tickets,” 
or lists of candidates, should be printed upon one large 
sheet or ballot. This ballot is given to each voter, who 
takes it to a private “booth” where no one can see how 
he marks it, insuring secrecy of voting. It is possible 
also to vote for independent candidates by this method. 

•General elections occur every even numbered year. 

98 


LATER DEVELOPMENT 


99 


Hard Times. During the summer of 1893 a financial 
panic swept the United States, causing many failures. 
While the crops were very good during the preceding 
year, the prices were very low. Many people were 
badly in debt and when they could not borrow 
money they suffered severe losses. It took several years 
for South Dakota to get business on a sound basis 
again. 

Taylor Defaults. It was very largely through bank 
failures that W. W. Taylor, state treasurer from 1901 to 
1905, was unable to turn over to his successor the funds 
with which he had been entrusted. Unfortunately, he 
listened to the advice of some Chicago lawyers and on 
January 2, 1905, fled with all of the state funds in his 
possession. These he turned over to the Chicago law¬ 
yers, together with his personal possessions. He then 
fled to South America, while the lawyers tried to get the 
state to compromise on a settlement. He was in debt 
to the state $367,000. The proposition was refused. Tay¬ 
lor then came back, gave up all his property and served 
two years in the penitentiary. Through some unfortu¬ 
nate court decisions the eastern signers of Taylor’s bonds 
were not compelled to pay their obligations, but the 
South Dakota signers were. This worked great hard¬ 
ship to Governor Mellette and many others, who turned 
over to the state all of their property. 

Prohibition Defeated. When the people adopted the 
constitution in 1889 they also adopted a provision which 
prohibited the manufacture and sale of intoxicating 
liquor. In most parts of the state the prohibition laws 
were quite well enforced, but in some places the law 
was practically a “dead letter.” Those opposed to pro¬ 
hibition made several attempts to get the legislature to 
submit an amendment to the constitution repealing this 
prohibition clause. The legislature of 1895 did this, and 


100 


SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


at the following election, in 1896, prohibition was 
defeated. 

Prohibition Adopted. For twenty years it was pos¬ 
sible to sell intoxicating liquor in the state. Temper¬ 
ance laws, however, were passed from time to time, 
which greatly restricted the sale. In 1915 the legislature 
passed a prohibition amendment; this was voted upon 
in 1916 and carried. On July 1, 1917, the legalized saloon 
passed out of existence in South Dakota. 

The Spanish War. In 1898 we had our war with Spain 
for the liberation of Cuba. The President called for 
troops and South Dakota responded with a larger num¬ 
ber than was asked. The first Regiment, under Colonel 
Alfred S. Frost, was mustered in at Sioux Falls in May. 
This regiment, comprising thirteen companies with 1,008 
men, was sent to the Philippine Islands, where they ren¬ 
dered distinguished service. Speaking of their service 
General McArthur said: “The record of the South Dakota 
regiment in the Philippines has no equal in military his¬ 
tory, so far as I know.” The total loss to the regiment 
during the war was twenty-three killed, one drowned, 
thirty-two deaths from disease, and sixty wounded. The 
regiment returned in October, 1899, being met at Aber¬ 
deen and at Yankton by President McKinley, the state 
officials and a host of enthusiastic admirers. 

In addition to the First Regiment, five troops of cav¬ 
alry were organized. They were called ^Griggsby’s 
Cowboys” for Colonel Melvin Griggsby, their com¬ 
mander. This regiment was ordered to Chickamauga 
and expected to get into service in Cuba, but the war 
closed before an opportunity for service was afforded. 

North Carolina Bonds. During the period of railroad 
expansion in the United States, beginning about 1850, 
many states issued bonds for the building of extensive 
lines of railway. Shortly following the Civil War similar 


LATER DEVELOPMENT 


101 


enterprises were launched in the southern states, some 
by unscrupulous “promoters.” Many of the states found 
themselves unable to pay the bonds when due, and it was 
impossible for the owners of the bonds to sue them with¬ 
out their consent. 

In 1901 a man from New York presented South Dakota 
with $10,000 in North Carolina bonds which that state 
had refused to pay when due. While an individual or 
private corporation could not sue North Carolina, a state 
could do so, and suit was commenced by this state 
against North Carolina. The principal and interest, 
amounting altogether to over $22,000, were ordered by 
the federal court to be paid. It was hoped by owners of 
other state bonds which were refused payment that by 
presenting a few of these to South Dakota and threaten¬ 
ing to present others, the debtor states would compro¬ 
mise on a payment. It was decided, however, that it was 
contrary to public policy for South Dakota to accept any 
more such gifts as involved a lawsuit with a sister state. 
It is interesting to note that in this state, and in many 
others, specific provision is made whereby the state may 
be sued by any person or corporation. 

Campaign for Capital. The legislature of 1903 pro¬ 
posed a removal of the state capital from Pierre to 
Mitchell. This was to be submitted to a vote of the 
people in the election of 1904. A most remarkable cam¬ 
paign followed. The Chicago and North Western com¬ 
pany is the only railway to Pierre, and was naturally 
very anxious to have the capital remain there. The great 
rival railroad in the state, ’the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. 
Paul, was equally anxious to have the capital removed to 
Mitchell, an important city on their line. Each railroad 
company began to issue passes* to different people to 

♦Since that time both the nation and the state have passed laws forbid¬ 
ding the indiscriminate granting of passes. 


102 SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 

allow them to visit the city it advocated. At length the 
trains became so crowded that no attempt was made to 
collect tickets and for a few weeks before election people 
got on and off trains as they pleased. The people of 
Mitchell built a fine stone structure which they agreed 
to present to the state as a capitol building. Pierre 
triumphed and now that a magnificent capitol build¬ 
ing has been erected there at great expense it is not at 
all likely that there will be further agitation of the sub¬ 
ject. 

The Capitol. The capitol building used during state¬ 
hood until 1910 was a frame structure donated by the 
citizens of Pierre to the state. In 1910 the present splen¬ 
did structure was completed at a cost of nearly $1,000,- 
000. This amount is being paid from the proceeds of 
the sale .of the 82,000 acres of land donated by the federal 
government for this purpose. 

After Fifty Years. In 1911 Yankton celebrated the 
fiftieth anniversary of the creation of Dakota Territory. 
Pioneer settlers came from all over the country and a 
splendid program was carried out, including an inter¬ 
esting historical pageant. The principal guest of honor 
was William Jayne, the first territorial governor, who 
journeyed from his home at Springfield, Illinois, to take 
part in the event. 

The Mexican Border. In the early summer of 1916 
our relations with Mexico became very strained. Raids 
had been repeatedly made by bands of armed Mexicans; 
our people had been killed and property taken or de¬ 
stroyed. A regiment of national guards from South 
Dakota was mobilized at Camp Hagman, near Redfield, 
where several weeks were spent in drill and training 
under the command of Colonel Boyd Wales. In July the 
regiment was sent to the Mexican border for guard duty. 
The record of the South Dakota regiment was a most 


LATER DEVELOPMENT 103 

creditable one. The regiment was returned to South 
Dakota and mustered out in March, 1917. 


STATE ADMINISTRATIONS. 

ARTHUR C. MELLETTE, the last territorial governor (1889) and 
first state governor (1889-93), was a delegate to the constitutional 
convention of 1883 and took a prominent part in the events leading 
to the division of the territory and establishing statehood. It was 
during his administration that the Messiah trouble occurred, a period 
of hard times set in, and some western Indian lands were opened to 
settlement. 

CHARLES H. SHELDON, 1893-7, was a farmer residing at Pier- 
pont. It was during this period that the nation-wide financial panic 
of 1893 occurred. The state normal school at Springfield was organ¬ 
ized in 1895. 

ANDREW E. LEE, 1897-1901, a business man of Vermillion. It 
was during this period that prohibition of the liquor traffic was aban¬ 
doned, the initiative and referendum was adopted, and the war with 
Spain occurred. 

CHARLES N. HERREID, 1901-5, a former legislator and lieuten¬ 
ant governor, elected from Eureka and afterwards removing to Aber¬ 
deen. A number of changes and reforms in government were pro¬ 
posed, many of which have been adopted. An era of great prosperity 
in the state began about this time and the title 11 The Sunshine State 1 ’ 
became its nickname. The college of law was established at the state 
university, the Northern Normal and Industrial School was organized 
at Aberdeen (1902), the State Department of History was created, 
many educational changes for the better were made, a magnificent 
sanitarium for soldiers was founded by the federal government at 
Hot Springs, considerable railway extension was begun and many 
other substantial improvements were made. In 1904 a portion of the 
Rosebud Indian reservation was opened for settlement and several 
thousand settlers poured into that rich agricultural region. 

SAMUEL H. ELROD, 1905-7, a lawyer of Clark and a member of 
the constitutional convention of 1883. During this period work on 
the new capitol was begun and unusual economy prevailed in govern¬ 
mental administration. Railroads were extended west of the Missouri 
and the Belle Fourche irrigation plan was begun. 

COE I. CRAWFORD, 1907-9, a lawyer and former attorney-general 
of Huron. Mr. Crawford headed a 11 reform” administration and 
many new laws w r ere passed relative to divorce reform, railroads, 
nominations, etc., and some new offices were created. A disastrous 
fire occurred at the Homestake mine in 1907. 

ROBERT S. VESSEY, 1909-13, a merchant and former legislator 
of Wessington Springs. Large portions of the Standing Rock and 
Cheyenne River Indian reservations were opened to settlement in 1909 
and thousands of settlers poured into that region. Several new coun¬ 
ties were organized. There was a poor crop of small grains in that 
region and in many other portions of the state in 1910 and a still 


104 


SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


poorer crop in 1911. In eacli of these years, however, South Dakota 
produced more new wealth than in any year prior to 1906, the total 
amount in 1911 being $139,281,000'. The tuberculosis sanitarium was 
established at Custer in 1909. 

FRANK M. BYRNE, 1913-17, a former legislator and lieutenant 
governor. A period of general prosperity and progress. A number 
of laws have recently been passed looking to the protection of bank 
depositors and investors in various securities. The creating of the 
tax commission, the passing of an inheritance tax, a bank guarantee 
law, and agricultural legislation are among the important measures 
enacted during this administration. 

PETER NORBECK, 1917-, a former legislator and lieutenant gov¬ 
ernor, of Redfield. The first native born governor. 


CHAPTER XXV 


SOUTH DAKOTA TODAY 


Pioneer Privations and Present Prosperity. Looking 
over old files of newspapers published between 1860 and 
1880, one will find such topics as “Famines in Kansas,” 
“Failures in Dakota,” and “The Poor Farmer of the 
Northwest.” Those pioneer days of the dugout, and of 
lonesomeness and suffering, are now happily in the past, 
and no parts of the world enjoy such a steady prosperity 
as these rich agricultural north central states. 

Rich Soil and Seasonal Rains. In our study of the sur¬ 
face of South Dakota, we noticed the clays of the glacial 
drift east of the Missouri river and the fine mud deposits 
in ancient shallow seas to the west. When covered with 
vegetable mould, these make the richest soils known. In 
the chapter on climate, mention is made of the abundance 
of rain during the growing months. The combination of 
the fertile soil and favorable climate and an industrious 
and thrifty class of people explains why this is a “Land 
of Plenty.” 


NEW WEALTH PRODUCED IN SOUTH DAKOTA, 1900 - 1917 . 


1900 .$ 106 , 500,000 

1901 . 113 , 652,750 

1902 . 119 , 949,000 

1903 . 136 , 124,000 

1904 . 116 , 792,000 

1905 126 , 686,261 

1906 . 145 , 821,831 

1907 . 160 , 232,344 

1908 . 185 , 434,430 


105 


1909 . 

.$ 202 , 362,000 

1910 ... 

. 181 , 881,000 

1911 . 

. 139 , 281,840 

1912 . 

. 192 , 237,000 

1913 . 

. 190 , 991,000 

1914 . 

. 212 , 423,000 

1915 . 

. 244 , 163,000 

1916 . 

. 267 , 222,000 

1917 . 

. 568 , 094,000 




















106 


SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


One of the best possible evidences of the steady growth 
in prosperity is the amount of money deposited in the 
banks of the state. Note the increase from year to year. 


BANK DEPOSITS IN SOUTH DAKOTA, 1900 - 1914 . 



1900 | 

11061 

1902 | 

1903 | 

o 

05 

O 

CTi 

1906 1 

fv 

o 

2 

[ 1908 | 

05 

o 

2 

o 

2 

a so 

JO 70 
'O 60 
^ 50 

O 40 
^ 30 

20 

10 











/ 




















/ 










/ 










/ 

















/ 











r 






















Fig. 29. Bank Deposits in South 
Dakota. Note the steady increases. 


1900 .'. 

.$ 14 , 733,000 

1901 . 

. 19 , 194,500 

1902 . 

. 29 , 422,500 

1903 . 

. 30 , 611,100 

1904 . 

. 28 , 607,300 

1905 . 

. 34 , 759,700 

1906 . 

. 45 , 046,200 

1907 . 

. 57 , 769,900 

1908 . 

. 68 , 833,000 

1909 . 

. 78 , 830,000 

1910 . 

. 87 , 784,000 

1911 . 

. 79 , 305,984 

1912 . 

.. 84 , 505,674 

1913 . 

. 93 , 341,935 

1914 . 

. 97 , 070,631 

1915 . 

. 101 , 417,329 

1916 . 

. 133 , 452,736 


Crops. Corn is the principal crop of the United States 
and usually of South Dakota. Most of the corn pro¬ 
duced in this state is raised in the southeastern part, 
though it is successfully grown in every portion. 

COEN PALACE. At Mitchell there is maintained a fair each year 
in a “Corn Palace,” a large structure completely covered with corn, 
arranged in the form of pictures and emblems. It most beautifully 
testifies to the abundance of this product in South Dakota. 

Name some of the uses and varieties of corn. What is considered 
a good yield in your county? Explain the advantages of frequent 
cultivation of corn. 


In pioneer days wheat was almost the only crop raised, 
and it ranks only second to corn today. 

Hay, oats, barley, flax, potatoes, speltz, and rye are 
other crops in the usual order of their value. The kinds 
of hay most commonly used as the native wild grasses, 
bromus (a bunch grass obtained from Russia), timothy, 
and clover. Alfalfa, a kind of clover, is beginning to be 
raised in great quantities. It has a great variety of uses, 













































A South Dakota Cornfield. 


Fig. 31. 

Fig. 32. Range Steers Shipped 
From Belle Fourche. They were 
grass fed only, but topped Chi¬ 
cago market for the year, up to 
the time they were sold, in Sep¬ 
tember, 1909. 

Fig. 34. 


Fig. 33. Plowing Scene in South 
Dakota. Eighty acres per day is 
fair average for these two steam 
outfits. 


Artesian Well on the “Powers Farm,” Edmunds County. 










Fig. 3 5. Corn Palace, Mitchell. 





Fig. 3 7. Vegetables of all kinds do well in South Dakota. The pumpkins 
shown in this picture were grown in Butte County, 
near Belle Fourche. 



Fig. 36. Every village is a great 
grain shipping center. Line of 
grain elevators at Avon. 


% 











SOUTH DAKOTA TODAY 


107 


for beef and dairy cattle, horses, hogs, and sheep, and the 
bees make honey from its blossoms. 

Live Stock. The native buffalo grass is very nutritious 
and when it dries in the latter part of summer and early 
fall it “cures” naturally and makes excellent hay. Most 
grass if not cut at the right time withers and has little 
value. The native prairie grass may be cut until the 
snow flies, and cattle, horses, and sheep graze all winter 
and thrive with no other feed. It was these favorable 
conditions which early made the Dakota prairies famous 
for herding. While the farmer has gradually crowded 
the cowboy to the more western plains, the value of the 
live stock raised each year is greater than that of corn. 
Better grades of live stock have been introduced, and it is 
a very common thing for South Dakota cattle and hogs 
to “top the market” at Chicago and other stockyard cen¬ 
ters. Dairying constitutes a very important source of 
wealth, yielding a steady and sure income. 

Minerals. The Black Hills region is rich in many 
kinds of ores, especially gold. Many mines are oper¬ 
ated with great success, the most famous one being the 
Homestake mine at the city of Lead. Silver, mica, lead, 
spodumene (used in making lithia salts), tungsten (used 
for hardening steel and aluminum), tin, copper, iron, 
manganese (used to increase the hardness of steel), 
graphite (used in pencils), and other rare and valuable 
minerals are also found in this region. The mica in¬ 
dustry at Custer is said to be one of the most extensive 
in the United States. Very valuable beds of gypsum 
(used in making cement and plaster) are found in the 
“red valley,” especially at Hot Springs. Onyx, agates, 
garnets, and other valuable gems are also found in the 
Hills. 

Many valuable building stones are found in this region, 
marble, limestone, and sandstone being the most impor- 


108 SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 

tant. In the southeastern part of the state, especially 
at Dell Rapids and Sioux Falls, is found a beautiful pink 
quartzite. This is a building stone that resembles in 
appearance granite and is very hard and durable. 

The “Niobrara” chalkstone, which is found in abun¬ 
dance from Chamberlain to Yankton, makes a very high 
grade of portland cement. At a great many places in the 
state there is clay suitable for making brick. There are 
somewhat extensive coal deposits, principally lignite, in 
the northwestern portion of the state, but as yet they 
are worked only for local uses. 

Eggs and Poultry. People do not usually appreciate 
the immense value of these products. Several million 
dollars’ worth are produced each year in this state— 
another sure and steady source of wealth. 

Natural Gas. In many places the artesian water has 
natural gas in it, and by means of a tank this is separated 
and used for fuel and light. It is used most extensively 
at Pierre. 

People. The early settlers of South Dakota came from 
other northern states, principally from Iowa, Wisconsin, 
Illinois, and Minnesota, and from northern Europe. The 
proportion of foreign born persons is between fifteen and 
twenty per cent. About one-half of our population have 
foreign-born parents; most of them came to this country 
from Norway, Germany, Russia, Sweden, Canada, and 
Denmark, though many other countries are represented. 
Few came to South Dakota from the ranks of the very 
rich or the very poor, practically all being of the well- 
to-do, industrious, enterprising, healthy pioneer type. It 
is this class of God-fearing, earnest, and progressive 
people that makes up the citizenship of the state today. 

A Law-abiding Citizenship. The census shows that 
about one-third of our people were born in this state. 
This third comprises, as a rule, the young people. Now 


SOUTH DAKOTA TODAY 


109 


in the older states the majority of the crimes are com¬ 
mitted by young people between the ages of sixteen and 
twenty-six. It is a source of great pride that the native- 
born sons and daughters of South Dakota instead of 
committing a large proportion of the crimes which occur 
within the state, are. responsible for only one-thirtieth 
of the crimes. The state ranks among the very best in 
the nation in its criminal record, but this fact is even of 
greater significance. It clearly shows the character of 
the people who make up the life and progress of the state. 
This fact also contains a bright prophecy of an increas¬ 
ingly better future. The great majority of our small 
criminal class are from the people who “drift” into the 
state for temporary employment. The sons and daugh¬ 
ters of the pioneers and of those who came here to make 
homes have inherited the sturdy virtues of their parents. 

Farm Life. Life on the farm in years gone by was 
usually one of unending toil and had few comforts. This 
has all changed. With rural routes bringing the daily 
mail, and telephones throughout the country, the farmer 
no longer lives apart from the world. Prosperous times 
have brought labor-saving machinery, automobiles and 
good. driving horses, comfortable houses with modern 
conveniences, and the farmer has nearly every advantage 
of the city dweller, with none of the noise, discomfort 
and high taxes of crowded cities. Thousands of farmers 
of South Dakota have artesian wells, furnishing an abun¬ 
dance of wholesome water under pressure so that they 
may pipe their houses and barns, and many run motors 
which generate electricity to furnish a flood of light in 
the house, yard, and barn. To be sure, there is hard 
work to be done, but this is true of every occupation if 
one would be successful. There is no place where there 
is a better opportunity to apply intelligence and education 
than on the farm. 


110 SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 

Educational Institutions. There is probably no state 
in the Union and no other portion of the world which 
has so many higher educational institutions in propor¬ 
tion to population as South Dakota. Every boy and 
girl in the state should know of these educational centers. 
The teacher’s desk or school library should contain cat¬ 
alogues which are sent free by the schools. 

A state board of regents has charge of the following 
institutions supported by the state: the State University 
at Vermillion; the State College of Agriculture and Me¬ 
chanic Arts at Brookings, the State School of Mines at 
Rapid City, the Northern Normal and Industrial School 
at Aberdeen; state normal schools at Madison, Spear- 
fish, and Springfield. 

The principal denominational colleges and schools are 
Yankton College {Congregational) at Yankton; Redfield 
College (Congregational) at Redfield; Sioux Falls Col¬ 
lege (Baptist) at Sioux Falls; Huron College (Presby¬ 
terian) at Huron; Dakota Wesleyan University (Meth¬ 
odist) at Mitchell; Columbus College (Catholic) at 
Chamberlain; Augustana College (Scandinavian Lu¬ 
theran) at Canton; Eureka College (German Lutheran) 
at Eureka; Lutheran Normal School at Sioux Falls; 
All Saints School (Episcopal) at Sioux Falls; Wes- 
sington Springs Seminary (Free Methodist) at Wes- 
sington Springs; Ward Academy (Congregational) at 
Academy; Plainview Academy (Adventist) at Redfield; 
Freeman College (Mennonite) at Freeman. 

There are many schools throughout the state for the 
education of the Indians. The federal government oper¬ 
ates four industrial schools for Indians in South Dakota. 
These are at Flandreau, Pierre, Rapid City, and 
Springfield. 

Other Institutions. A state board af charities and 
corrections has charge of the following public institu- 



Fig. 40. State College, Brookings. 



Fig. 41. State School of Mines, Rapid City. 
























Fig. 42. State Normal School, Springfield. 



Fig. 43. State Normal School, Spearfish. 



Fig. 44. State Normal School, Madison. 















Fig. 45. Northern Normal and Industrial School, Aberdeen. 


Fig. 46. Huron College. 


Fig. 4 7. Yankton College. 























Fig. 5o. Sioux Falls College. 



Fig. 5l. Augustana College, Canton. 










SOUTH DAKOTA TODAY 


111 


tions: the State School for the Deaf at Sioux Falls, the 
State School for the Blind at Gary, the State Training 
School at Plankinton, the State Prison at Sioux Falls, 
the State Hospital for the Insane at Yankton, and the 
School for the Feeble-Minded at Redfield. 

The State Soldiers’ Home is located at Hot Springs 
and the State Tuberculosis Sanitarium at Custer. 


CHAPTER XXVI 


DAKOTA’S WONDERLAND 

A Traveler’s Story of the Black Hills. We arrived in 
Hot Springs, in the southern Hills, late one dark night 
in summer. Early in the morning I arose, eager to see 
the wonderful country my friends had told me I should 
see. Looking out of my hotel window I saw a great 
bank of bright red earth, crowned with dark evergreens. 
Off to the right was a gulch filled with pines, the same 
red earth showing on each side. Could it be true—was 
the very earth different out here? 

I hastily dressed and started on a walk to view this 
wonderland. Yes, the whole earth was red, save where 
the green grass and dark evergreens covered it. Off to 
the right was Battle Mountain, and I got a glimpse of 
the beautiful buildings and grounds of the national sani¬ 
tarium for soldiers. To my left the way led up to the 
state home for soldiers. 

I followed a clear, sparkling mountain stream up its 
valley. Going across on a plank, I stooped to pick out 
of its rippling waters a pretty stone. The moment that 
I touched the water my hand was jerked back by reflex 
action—the water was hot! It was not boiling, to be 
sure, but was distinctly warm. “O yes,” I said aloud, 
'‘this is Hot Springs.” 

All over the city are sanitariums and hospitals. “There 
must be lots of sick folks here,” I thought. Then I remem¬ 
bered that when I went to register at the hotel the night 
before the man ahead of me asked the clerk to write his 
name for him, holding up a hand all crooked and stiff 
with rheumatism. This was the famous health resort. 

112 



Fig. 24. Head of Cottonwood Draw, in Center of the “Bad Lands.” 
Layers of Sandstone in Clay Beds. The Sandstone Protects the 
Clay From Weathering and Wearing Away. The Isolated 
Caps Are Called “Ostrich Heads.” 



Fig. 25. Government Diverting Dam Near Belle Fourche. 








Fig. 26. A Scene in the Black Hills—Sioux Pass. 



Fig. 27. In the Northern Part of Deadwood. “Upturned and overlapping 

layers of rock.” 





DAKOTA’S WONDERLAND 


113 


The next day we drove out to Wind Cave and clam¬ 
bered down its winding passages to a depth of a thou¬ 
sand feet beneath the surface. Truly, we were in a 
wonderland. 

A delightful railroad journey was taken from Hot 
Springs northward. We soon left the beautiful red val¬ 
ley, and though much of the time we were passing beau¬ 
tiful fields we realized we were climbing higher. Huge 
hills of slate were passed and occasionally mammoth 
rocks of granite. 

At length we arrived at Custer. Near here gold was 
discovered in 1874. We visited the mica works, where 
great quantities of mica are prepared for the market. 
We saw great slabs of mica almost as large as a table 
top. From Custer we were driven to Sylvan lake, a 
beautiful lake formed by damming up a gulch in the 
mountains. Here are piled up great granite rocks many, 
many times as large as a house.* From here we went to 
the top of Harney Peak, a difficult climb. We now stood 
7,742 feet above the sea, higher than any point in the 
United States east of the Mississippi. Next day we vis¬ 
ited the tuberculosis sanitarium maintained by the state. 

From Custer we journeyed to Lead, the largest city 
in the Black Hills. This city gets its name from the 
miner’s term lead (pronounced leed), or lode, which 
means a vein of ore. It is well named, for all around 
and under the city are vast gold ore deposits. Not far 
from the depot we saw a sign marked “5,280 feet.” We 
were a mile above sea-level and we remembered that in 
Denver we had noted a similar sign. Some of the streets 
are very steep and the houses in portions of the city 
are arranged in tiers, the houses on one street being 
higher than the tops of the houses on the street below. 

The places of principal interest in Lead are those con¬ 
nected with the Homestake mine, located right in the 


114 SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 

heart of the city. This is the largest gold mine in the 
world operated by a single company. About half a 
million dollars’ worth of gold is obtained here every 
month. This is nearly one-twelfth of all the gold mined 
in the United States. 

The ore is a dark looking rock taken from various 
depths, some of the “levels” being many hundreds of 
feet beneath the surface. The ore is pounded to a fine 
powder under “stamps” and washed over pans covered 
with mercury. The mercury retains most of the gold, 
which is afterwards separated from the mercury by dis¬ 
tillation (heating until the mercury evaporates). About 
three-fourths of the gold from the Homestake ore is thus 
obtained. The ore is then washed down to great tanks 
in which a chemical called cyanide of potassium is poured, 
and this dissolves nearly all the gold which escapes the 
mercury plates. A further treatment called the “sliming 
process” is also given the ore under water pressure to 
recover the very small proportion of gold which is still 
left in it. Several thousand men are employed in this 
great mine. 

Although the city of Deadwood is only about three miles 
from Lead, in order to make the journey it is necessary 
to travel several miles to avoid slopes too steep for the 
train or the trolley car. The city is picturesquely located 
in Whitewood Canyon. Deadwood was a famous mining 
and trading center in the pioneer days. A United States 
assay office is located here, to which gold and silver 
bullion may be taken for tests as to purity. 

“Don’t miss seeing the Spearfish Canyon,” everyone 
told us, so we inquired how far it was to Spearfish from 
Deadwood. 

“That depends upon how you measure the distance,” 
we were told. “Ten miles as the crow flies, thirty-nine 
miles by rail and three and one-half hours by train.” 


DAKOTA’S WONDERLAND 


115 


Three and one-half hours seemed a long time in which 
to travel thirty-nine miles by train, but when we saw 
how steep were the grades by long horseshoe and letter 
S curves we realized that climbing mountains is no small 
task. The beautiful scenery is beyond description—the 
stately pines and cedars, the sparkling mountain trout- 
filled streams, the deep canyons, the long vistas with 
bright walled precipices, and dark mountain backgrounds, 
the Bridal Veil falls of the Spearfish river. 

Spearfish is located near the mouth of the canyon. 
About it are fertile bottom lands many of which are irri¬ 
gated. At the edge of the city is located a state normal 
school and nearby is a United States fish hatchery. 

From Spearfish we drove over the foothills to Belle 
Fourche (pronounced bel foorsh). Near here the federal 
government has built a great dam across the Belle 
Fourche river. This dam is over a mile long. The water 
is thus raised to a higher level and is diverted in ditches 
to the neighboring land for irrigation. About 100,000 
acres of land are thus made very productive. 

We went by train from here back to Rapid City, keep¬ 
ing our eyes glued to the window, for we did not want to 
miss a single view of the foothills, gulches, and the dis¬ 
tant mountains, looking dark by reason of the growth of 
pines and spruces. It is this dark coat of evergreen that 
gives the region the name “Black Hills.” 

At Rapid City we visited the large Indian school and 
the state school of mines. While here we were advised 
by all means to take the trip to Mystic on the Crouch 
Line. A most wonderful trip it proved to be. The rail¬ 
road winds back and forth up the canyon of Rapid Creek, 
overhung by steep, high walls of beautifully colored lay¬ 
ers of sandstone, shale, limestone, arid slate. In some 
places the canyon is so deep and the walls are so steep 
that the sunshine never reaches the bottom. As we got 


116 


SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


farther up the canyon the layers of sandstone, limestone, 
and shale disappeared and great masses of slate and 
granite appeared. 

Most of the way I stood on the steps of the coach to 
get a better view. In one place the grade was particu¬ 
larly steep, and though the little engine was toiling and 
panting hard, the train moved quite slowly. Suddenly 
my eye spied, near the railroad, a small slab of rock that 
looked all spotted. Instantly I remembered I had heard 
of the gems found in the Hills, and jumped off the steps, 
ran back and picked up the stone and then sprinted up 
the track to overtake the train. I succeeded in doing so, 
and as I sat on the upper step, trying to catch my breath, 
I examined my find. The first glance showed that my 
efforts and risk had been abundantly rewarded. The 
stone was fairly peppered with red garnets about the size 
of small currants, a veritable pudding stone of garnets! 

As we got into our berths at Rapid City that night to 
sleep comfortably while the train took us to our eastern 
South Dakota homes, our minds reviewed the delightful 
experiences in this Dakota wonderland. Our imagination 
pictured again the beautiful red valley surrounding the 
Hills, the irrigated farms and orchards, the delightful and 
health-giving climate, the dark caves and canyons, the 
beautiful pines and spruces, the multi-colored rocks, and 
the great natural wealth. As the train rumbled along 
toward the plains the thought kept recurring, “what a 
wonderful state this is”; and the second stanza of the 
South Dakota song sang itself over and over again : 

t( South Dakota, land of plenty, 

To health and wealth the open door; 

Land of fertile plain and prairie, 

Mountains filled with gems and ore. 

South Dakota, land of sunshine, 

Under God the people rule . fi 


CHAPTER XXVII 


BAD-FOR-TRAVELING LANDS 

The Badlands. The early French travelers named this 
region “Mauvaisse Terres,” meaning thereby “bad-for- 
traveling lands,” or, as we usually call them, badlands. 
This name is somewhat misleading, as the land is not at 
all bad, but is usually fertile, excepting where it is so 
steep that vegetation is washed off and soil cannot be 
formed. In the level portions the nutritious buffalo grass 
grows and supports great herds of cattle. Good water 
may be usually found in shallow wells and considerable 
farming is carried on in this region. 

The largest badland area in the state lies southeast of 
the Black Hills and extends into Nebraska and Wyo¬ 
ming. This region is called the Big Badlands. 

Following is an interesting description of the view 
from Sheep Mountain :* 

11 Much of the view from the top of Sheep Mountain, which projects 
five hundred to six hundred feet above the lower valleys, is hopelessly 
indescribable. Far away cattle may be seen feeding on levels of 
green, and here and there distant dots in ruffled squares indicate the 
new abodes of sturdy homesteaders. Immediately about all is still. 
The sharp eye may possibly detect a remnant bunch of mountain sheep, 
once numerous in this locality, but quickly and quietly they steal to 
cover among the intricate recesses of the crumbling precipices. The 
song birds seem to respect the solitude. Only an occasional eagle 
screams out a word of curiosity or defiance as he sails majestically 
across the maze of projecting points and bottomless pits. 

“Magnificent ruins of a great silent city seem painted in delicate 
shades of cream and pink and buff and green. Domes, towers, mina¬ 
rets and spires decorate gorgeous cathedrals and palaces and present 
dimensions little dreamed of by the architects of the ancients. At 
first there may come a feeling of the incongruous or grotesque, but 

♦Taken from “The Badland Formations of the Black Hills Region,” by 
President C. C. O’Harra of the South Dakota School of Mines, Bulletin 
No. 9, p. 14. 


117 


118 


SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


studying more closely the meaning of every feature, the spirit of this 
marvelous handiwork of the Great Creator develops and vistas of 
beauty appear. ’ 1 

Long, long ages ago there were great salt seas covering 
what is now the western plains. Great deposits of fine 
mud and sand were made in these waters. The sea bot¬ 
tom arose and became dry land. These deposits are now 
the rock layers underlying the plains. Many fresh water 
lakes were formed and into them and over the plains were 
washed fine clays. Later, streams carried sediments into 
the region and the winds spread fine sand and dust over 
it. The fossil remains of many animals, some of them 
very large, have been found in these deposits. An uplift 
of the whole western plain occurred. The Rockies and 
the dome, which developed into the Black Hills, were 
uplifted. 

In the badlands the surface is made up of very fine 
clay, with occasional layers of harder stone. The rain¬ 
fall is not very great, but comes in heavy showers, and 
there are no trees, shrubs, or deep-rooted plants to hold 
the soft surface together. Under these conditions the 
ordinary weathering forces produce a very irregular sur¬ 
face, every rain washing out tiny canyons and ravines. 

President O’Harra, in his valuable bulletin, explains 
the development of the region as follows: 

“The badlands of the Black Hills region are the result of erosion, 
controlled in part by climatic conditions and in part by the strati¬ 
graphic and lithologic nature of the deposits. There is too frequent 
lack of appreciation of the work of common disintegrating and car¬ 
rying agents and many an individual speculates upon the mighty 
upheavals and the terrible volcanic forces that to him have produced 
the wonderful ruggedness of the badlands, when the real work, so far 
at least as immediate topography is concerned, wholly apart from the 
forces of vulcanism, have been performed under a kindly sun and 
through benevolent combination by ordinary winds and frosts and 
rains, and to a lesser degree by plants and animals. 

11 What the earliest beginnings may have been is not known. Suffice 
it to say that then, as now, the sun shone, the winds blew, and the 
rains came, and such irregularities as may have existed influenced in 


BAD-FOR-TRAVELING LANDS 


119 


some degree the earliest run off. Season by* season the elements 
weakened the uplifted sediments, and little by little the growing 
streams etched their way into the yielding surface. In time lateral 
tributaries pushed their way into the interstream areas and these 
tributaries in turn developed smaller branches, the series continuing 
with ever increasing complexity to the delicate etching at the top of 
the highest levels. 

“All the important streams, the Little Missouri, the Grand, the 
Moreau, the Cheyenne, and the Belle Fourche, the Bad and the White 
rivers, give indications of an eventful history, but for this there is 
little opportunity for discussion here. Cheyenne river and White river 
are the chief factors today in the production and continuation of the 
badland features, and of these White river clings most closely to its 
task. The Cheyenne has already cleared its valley of the badlands 
deposits except in the important locality southeast of the Black Hills 
and in the western Pine Ridge area beyond the headwaters of White 
river, and even in these areas the main stream has cut entirely through 
the formations and in most places deeply into the underlying black 
cretaceous shales. White river, on the other hand, for more than fifty 
miles of its middle course, meanders across a wide alluvial bottom, 
underlain by badland sediments, while its many-branched head and 
all of the larger tributaries from the south and many from the north 
continue to gnaw vigorously into deposits that retain much of their- 
original thickness. 7 7 


CHAPTER XXVIII 


CLIMATE 

Seasons. South Dakota has a continental climate, 
which differs from oceanic climate by having greater 
changes in temperature. The usual seasons of the tem¬ 
perate zone—spring, summer, fall and winter—are found 
here. Spring and fall are somewhat shorter than in the 
eastern portion of the United States, March often being 
a winter month and summer coming quickly in May. 
Winter sometimes sets in at about Thanksgiving time. 
Occasionally, however, we have an early spring, with 
seeding in March, and frequently there is little winter 
weather until Christmas time. 


AVERAGE DATES OF KILLING FROSTS. 


City. Last in Spring. First in Fall. True Summer. 

Aberdeen . May 21 Sept. 18 120 days 

Brookings . May 22 Sept. 18 119 11 

Huron . May 12 Sept. 20 131 “ 

Sioux Falls.. May 12 Sept. 19 130 “ 

Yankton..May 2 Oct. 3 * 154 11 

Pierre . April 30 Sept. 30 153 “ 

Rapid City. May 6 Sept. 26 143 ft 

Spearfish . May 9 Sept. 27 141 (i 

St. Paul* .April 27 Oct. 3 159 “ 


Temperatures. The average temperature for the en¬ 
tire state is about 45° for the year. The western half of 


* Cities of other states are given in some of the tables for comparison. 
All records are those of the United States Weather Bureau. Temperatures 
are of the Fahrenheit scale. 


120 












CLIMATE 


121 


the state is slightly warmer than the eastern half. The 
average is 45.6° in the west and 45.5° in the east. The 
following table gives a good idea of the temperature as 
recorded by the United States Weather Bureau: 



TEMPERATURES. 




Year 

Average 

Lowest 

Highest 


records 

annual 

ever 

ever 

City. 

began. 

temperature. 

recorded 

recorded. 

Aberdeen . 

. 1890 

41.9 

—46 

Ill 

Alexandria . 

. 1882 

45.2 

—38 

110 

Brookings . 

. 1888 

42.5 

—41 

104 

Clark . 

. 1889 

42.6 

—40 

108 

Greenwood . 

. 1893 

48.9 

—37 

111 

Highmore . 

. 1887 

44.7 

—40 

108 

Huron . 

. 1881 

43.3 

—43 

108 

Milbank . 

. 1890 

42.8 

—38 

107 

Pierre . 

. 1891 

46.7 

—40 

110- 

Rapid City . 

. 1888 

46.3 

—34 

106 

Sioux Falls. 

. 1890 

44.7 

—42 

108 

Spearfish . 

. 1889 

46.4 

—30 

105 

Yankton . 

. 1873 

46.6 

—34 

107 

St. Paul . 

. 1836 

43.9 

—41 

104 


January is the coldest month, though the coldest days 
are sometimes in December or in February. The average 
temperature for the state for January is 16.4°. The low¬ 
est temperature averages—33°, although occasionally it 
gets as low as —40°, though such temperatures are rare 
and remain so low for only a few hours, when the air is 
very still. 

July is the warmest month, the average temperature 
for the state being 72°. The highest temperatures are 
often over 100°, although such temperatures occur only 
on one or two days, and then for only a few hours in the 
afternoon. It is very rare that the evenings of even the 
hottest days are uncomfortably warm; usually summer 
nights are delightfully cool. 
















122 


SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


AVERAGE TEMPERATURES. 


City 

Jan 

Feb | Mar | Apr | May | J un 

| Jul |Aug|8ep| Oct |Nov|Dec 

Aberdeen .... 

10.9 

11.1 

J 24.9 

44.5 

55.8 

65.6 

71.2 

69.0159.2 

45.6 

28.5 

16.9 

Huron . 

19.5 

12.9 

26.7 

44.6 

57.3 

66.6 

71.5 

69.1 

59.6 

44.7 

27.4 

15.7 

Pierre . 

17.9 

18.1 

30.8 

47.8 

58.1 

68.2 

74.8 

73.4 

63.6 

50.7 

33.3 

23.8 

Rapid City... 

22.9 

22.2 

31.1 

45.6 

54.0 

63.7 

70.7 

70.0 

61.2 

49.2 

35.4 

29.4 

Yankton .... 

16.4 

19.2 

31.1 

47.3 

59.2 

68.6 

73.7 

72.2 

63.1 

50.6 

33.9 

23.5 

St. Paul. 

11.9 

15.4 

28.2 

45.8 

57.7 

67.2 

72.0 

69.7 

60.5 

48.4 

31.0 

18.8 


Winds. South Dakota lies in the zone of prevailing- 
westerlies. Usually the surface air lying over the state 
is that which comes from the Rocky mountains, and 
hence has the dryness and crispness of mountain air. The 
moisture comes principally from the Gulf of Mexico and 
Atlantic ocean in the winds which “back in” to the pre¬ 
vailing drift of air from west to east across the United 
States. 

Cyclones and Anticyclones. As explained in any 
physical geography, there are two kinds of general dis¬ 
turbances in the air of this zone—low pressure storms of 
warm, damp,‘-rising air, or cyclones, and high pressure 
storms of cool, dry, descending air, or anticyclones. 
These are huge eddies in the atmosphere, sometimes cov¬ 
ering one-half of the United States, and they always 
travel toward the east. A glance at any daily weather 
map of the United States will usually show several such 
cyclones and anticyclones, the center of the cyclone being 
marked “low” and that of the anticyclone “high.” 
These storms follow each other with considerable regu¬ 
larity, each one taking three or four days to cross over a 
given place. A few days of warm weather occur, with 
occasional clouds and showers, while a cyclone is passing 
over the state, followed by three or four days of the 
colder, clearer air of the anticyclone. In New England 
these follow each other more rapidly, making the climate 
much more changeable than it is here. An occasional 
long, hot spell in summer is due to a slow movement of a 


















CLIMATE 


123 


cyclone or to the influence of a second one closely fol¬ 
lowing. 

Tornadoes. The cyclone should not be confused with 
the tornado, the correct term for the small, violent and 
destructive storm which sometimes occurs within the 
area covered by a cyclone. A tornado is a small part of a 
cyclone and is due to the presence of very moist air and 
intense heat. Owing to the dryness of South Dakota air, 
tornadoes are very rare here. 

Chinook* Winds. These are frequent in the western 
part of the state, especially in winter. They are hot,f dry 
winds from the eastern slope of the Rockies. These winds 
usually occur often enough to keep the western grazing 
plains free from snow, for the nutritious Buffalo grass 
makes splendid grazing the year round. The rise in tem¬ 
perature when the Chinook winds blow is sometimes very 
rapid and snow disappears in a few hours. 

“ First a puff of heat, summer-like in comparison with what had 
existed for two weeks, and we run to our instrument shelter to ob¬ 
serve the temperature. Up goes the mercury, 34° in seven minutes. 
Now the cattle stop traveling, and with muzzles turned toward the 
wund low with satisfaction. Weary with two weeks’ standing on 
their feet they lie down in the snow, for they know that their 
salvation has come; that now their bodies will not freeze to the 
ground. The temperature has risen to 38°, the great expanse of snow 
is becoming, damp and honeycombed by the hot winds, and we retire 
satisfied that the ‘Chinook’ is a genuine and lasting one.”—A. B. 
Coe, Monthly Weather Review, November, 1896. 

Blizzards. The blizzards (snow accompanied by high 
northerly wind), which sometimes sweep over the Dako¬ 
tas, Minnesota, Iowa and many other states, are severe 
storms which may occur to the east of an anticyclone. 


* Pronounced shee-nooJc', the name of a tribe of Indians in Oregon, 
f Whenever air ascends it expands, and expansion of the air cools it 
one degree for every 183 feet of ascent. This is the principal cause of 
rain. Now when a low pressure storm passes along the eastern slope of 
the Rockies the air flows over them and through the passes from the 
Pacific coast. As the air flows down the eastern slope it is warmed by 
compression just as it was cooled by expansion on the western slope. 
When vapor changes to liquid, heat is always released. The Chinook wind 
thus gets its heat in these two ways (a) by compression, and (b) by th" 
release of heat in the upper air during the rain on the western slope. 



124 


SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


If there is loose snow on the ground and a strong wind 
blows, it may become a blinding blizzard, which lasts a 
day or two, piling the snow in drifts. These blizzards 
do not occur very often in South Dakota, several winters 
sometimes passing without a severe one. Modern con¬ 
veniences are now so common that the dread of the bliz¬ 
zard of pioneer days has almost disappeared. 

Wind Velocity. There is a common error concerning 
the winds of the prairie states—a belief that they are more 
severe than they are in reality. The average rate of 
winds, as recorded by the United States Weather Bu¬ 
reau at Pierre is 9.3 miles per hour;* at Rapid City, 8.1; 
at Yankton, 8.4; at Huron, 11.6. Comparing these with 
11.3 at Minneapolis, 13.2 at New York, 13.6 at Duluth and 
17.0 at Chicago, we see that the winds are not so severe or 
constant as many people believe. The reason why they 
seem more severe is because of the lack of forests and 
other wind protection, which as time passes is being over¬ 
come. When large groves are found on every farm and 
each town and city looks from the distance like a forest, 
the winds will be no more annoying in these prairie states 
than they are in central United States. 

Rainfall. It has been thoroughly shown that the aver¬ 
age rainfall is enough for farming by modern methods 
over practically the entire state. As in Iowa, Minnesota, 
Kansas and other agricultural states, the years with not 
enough rainfall are rare, and the state is now so pros¬ 
perous that an occasional wheat failure does not cause the 
great loss which occurred in pioneer days, when every¬ 
thing depended upon that one crop. 

Three important facts should be borne in mind in con¬ 
nection with rainfall in South Dakota: 1. Our rainy sum- 

* The instruments are placed as high up in the air as possible, above all 
buildings and trees. The unusual heights at which they are placed in 
New York and Chicago partly explain the great velocities there. 



CLIMATE 


125 


mers. 2. The saving of the moisture by forests and other 
plants. 3. Modern diversified farming. 

Rainy Summers. The rainfall at Yankton averages 
26 inches a year; at Naples, Italy, it averages about 40 
inches. If the soil and temperature at Naples are as 
favorable as at Yankton one might think that conditions 
for agriculture must be very much better at Naples than 
at Yankton. But a glance at Fig. 28 shows that Naples 
has very dry summers, having only two inches in June 
and July, whereas these are the rainy months at Yank¬ 
ton. In June we have more rain in South Dakota than 
we do all winter long (snow is melted and measured as 



Fig. 28. Rainy summers at Yankton; dry 
summers at Naples, Italy. 


rain), and this is just when we need rain for our growing 
crops. In winter Naples gets heavy rains, but they are 
not valuable for agriculture. They must irrigate in south¬ 
ern Italy to get crops. If you know the rainfall of a re¬ 
gion you cannot tell whether it is favorable for farming 
unless you know when the rain falls. 

A Favorable Comparison. That in South Dakota we 
have enough rainfall during the growing and ripening 
months of April, May, June, July and August is shown in 
a comparison of the average rainfall for many years dur¬ 
ing these months in a few selected cities of South Da¬ 
kota and a few in the rich agricultural portion of the 
Great Lake region. 













































126 


SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


City. 

Years. 

April. 

May. 

June. 

July. 

Aug. 

Total. 

Centerville . 

... 11 

1.74 

4.35 

4.92 

4.72 

3.48 

19.21 

Aberdeen . 

...20 

3.46 

3.79 

4.43 

. 3.06 

3.12 

17.86 

Yankton . 

...37 

2.94 

3.93 

4.02 

3.77 

3.15 

17.81 

Flandreau . 

...20 

2.51 

4.23 

4.46 

2.98 

3.35 

17.53 

Sioux Falls. 

...20 

2.52 

4.33 

4.44 

3.11 

2.98 

17.38 

Buffalo, N. Y.... 

...77 

2.48 

3.18 

2.99 

3.20 

2.98 

14.83 

Detroit, Mich. .. . 

...40 

2.21 

3.28 

3.82 

3.49 

2.73 

15.53 

Milwaukee, Wis.. 

.. 40 

2.76 

3.39 

3.62 

3.10 

2.84 

15.71 

Erie, Pa. 

...37 

2.43 

3.54 

3.76 

3.10 

3.11 

15.94 

Chicago, Ill. 

...40 

2.72 

3.63 

3.52 

3.62 

3.02 

16.51 


These South Dakota cities have greater rainfall than 
most places in the state, but the average for the entire 
state during the five growing months is 14.55 inches, 
while that of the state of Michigan, right in the midst of 
the Great Lakes, is only 14.33 inches. South Dakota does 
not receive as much snow in winter or rain in the fall and 
spring as Michigan and other states to the east and 
southeast, but the ground here remains frozen all winter 
and there is very little evaporation until in the spring. 
When the moisture which is in the ground in the spring 
is kept in by cultivation with the disc and harrow, the 
growing season is just as favorable for splendid crops in 
South Dakota as in the states having greater winter rains. 


Year — 

Chicago 

Buffalo 

Yankton Aberdeen 

Regularity of Rains .— 

1890 ... 

. . . 3.25 

5.28 


3.59 

7.54 

Even though our sum¬ 

1891 ... 

. . . 2.42 

1.64 


4.97 

2.76 

mer rains are abundant 

1892 . .. 

... 10.58 

9.52 


2.95 

5.36 

it might be thought 

1893 ... 

. . . 3.59 

1.65 


3.22 

1.29 

that dry summers are 

1894 ... 

. . . 1.96 

3.45 


1.48 

4.65 

more frequent here than 

1895 ... 

. . . 1.79 

1.52 


5.69 

7.55 

in the north central 

1896 ... 

. . . 2.82 

1.46 


3.28 

6.26 

states. The rainfall rec¬ 

1897 ... 

. . . 3.60 

1.95 


2.49 

4.40 

ords of the United 

1898 .. . 

. . . 5.30 

2.14 


4.08 

0.94 

States Weather Bureau 

1899 ... 

. . . 2.71 

0.69 


2.51 

7.14 

do not show this to be 

1900 ... 

. . . 2.06 

1.22 


1.88 

1.71 

the case. South Dakota 

1901 ... 

. . . 2.42 

1.39 


6.84 

5.82 

has no more frequent 

1902 . . . 

. . . 6.45 

4.20 


5.03 

3.92 

dry summers than the 

1903 ... 

. . . 1.62 

3.95 


3.35 

1.50 

states bordering the 

1904 . . . 

. . . 0.55 

2.83 


2.35 

5.09 

Great Lakes. The 

1905 ... 

. . . 3.27 

3.45 


3.68 

7.40 

month of June is the 

1906 ... 

. . . 1.87 

1.77- 


2.62 

2.66 

critical one for rainfall. 

1907 ... 

. . . 3.64 

1.91 


6.08 

3.02 

A dry June usually 

1908 ... 

... 1.48 

2.45 


5.03 

5.20 

means a short crop. The 

1909 ... 


1.05 


5.50 

2.77 

rainfall for this month 

1910 . . . 

. . . 0.91 

1.05 


1.85 

3.00 

for twenty-one years at 

The rainfall in the month 

of 

June. 


such widely separated 
cities as Aberdeen and 

Tankton 

compare very favorably with 

similar 

records for Chicago and 

Buffalo. 

Count the 

number 

of years when less 

than two inches of rain 

fell in each, of the cities; when 

less than three inches fell. 































CLIMATE 


127 


Plant Cover. The importance of protection against 
evaporation is very great. It has been shown that thir¬ 
teen inches of water during a year is enough in the hot 
climate of California if there is complete protection 
against evaporation. Forests are of great* value in keep¬ 
ing moisture in the soil by preventing evaporation. There 
is no evidence that forests increase rainfall, but anyone 
who has gone into the woods after a rain knows how wet 
the ground stays for a long time after the prairie has be¬ 
come dry. Where there is no forest or plant cover for the 
soil, more water evaporates and more runs off. 

Modern Farming. The effect of cultivating the soil in 
closing the tiny cracks and opening is to prevent evapo¬ 
ration. Cultivating the soil cannot possibly increase rain¬ 
fall, but it does keep more moisture in the soil, so the 
effect is just the same. An actual experiment showed 
that nearly 200 tons of water were saved by cultivation 
on each acre of land, a saving equal to an inch and three- 
fourths of rainfall; and all of this in just one week.* 
Examine a wheat field the day following a rain and you 
will find millions of tiny cracks broken through the crust. 
These permit much moisture to escape. Because a corn 
field can be cultivated during the early growing season 
and a wheat field cannot, corn is much better for saving 
moisture than wheat. 

The farmers of South Dakota have learned the im¬ 
portance of mixed or diversified farming. When rust 
seriously injured the wheat crop in some portions of the 
middle west in 1904, it did comparatively little damage, 
because corn, oats, barley, speltz, millet and forage crops, 
stodk and dairy interests, were the greatest Sources of 
profit for the farmers and furnished a sure income. 

Soils and Moisture. It is well known that the different 
kinds of soil require different amounts of moisture. 

* See “The Soil,” by F. H. King, published 4)y The Macmillan Company. 


AVERAGE PRECIPITATION, 


128 


SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


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CLIMATE 


129 


Clayey soil is best for holding moisture and sandy soil is 
poorest. Nearly all of the soil of South Dakota is made 
from fine clay, and thus is the best possible kind to hold 
and use the water. 

Total Precipitation. The total precipitation (rain to¬ 
gether with snow and sleet melted and treated as rain) 
each year for the eastern half of the state averages 22 3 
inches, and for the western half 17.3 inches. 

CLIMATE PERMANENT. There is a very widespread belief that 
the climate of South Dakota is changing, getting warmer and receiv¬ 
ing more rain. The weather records, carefully preserved, do not 
show any such change. The longest reliable records in the state are 
at Yankton*, extending back to 1873, and for the north central West 
at St. Paul, Minn., beginning in 1836. 



The three years of heaviest rainfall at these stations were as 
follows: 

Yankton, 40.95 in., 1881; 37.15 in., 1875; 35.21 in., 1883. 

St. Paul, 49.69 in., 1849; 39.16 in., 1881; 38.14 in., 1865. 

The ten-year period having the greatest rainfall was 1865-1874 at 
St. Paul, averaging 32.32 in.; 1875-1884 at Yankton, averaging 28.64 
in. It should not be inferred that rainfall was greater in pioneer 

* There are a few records at Fort Randall extending as far back as 
1857, and at Fort Sisseton from 1866 to 1889, but these records are not 
complete. 



































































130 


SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


years, excepting for the year mentioned, for the highest five-year 
period at St. Paul was 1902-1906, averaging 33.54 in.; at Yankton, 
1905-1909, averaging 29.06 in. 

A diagram showing the rainfall and temperature by years shows 
no general increase or decrease either in heat or moisture. A dia¬ 
gram of that of Huron is given here because the records there are the 
most reliable in the state, all of them having been made by the 
same government expert, Mr. S. W. Glenn. 

VERIFICATION. Every weather record in this chapter has been 
obtained from the United States Weather Bureau. 




APPENDIX 


131 


THE ORIGIN OF CERTAIN SOUTH DAKOTA NAMES. 


Aberdeen, a city in Scotland. 

Aimour, Phil. D. Armour, Chicago. 

Aurora, a Latin word, meaning^-morning,” “dawn ” “east ” 

S n-u ( e b t1o d „‘ e, l’8l9°85 W - Beadle. g ’Maail™’.S. D.fiSupt. P^Iic In- 

Belle frnm U + < i! ie ( bel , foorsll ')» a French word, meaning “beautiful fork-” 

forks of the“ Cheyenne 0 riv T e a r nety ° f wlW fl ° WerS gl ' owing the 

Beresford (bers'ford), Lord Beresford. 

Bonesteel, Hon. W. H. Bonesteel, Springfield, S. D. 

Bowdl^ n H 0 n b00 . 0 M. ’f^wdl^MUclfe^f^S^D^ 06 Frenchman ’ s Sam.” 

Britton, Isaac T. Britton, an early settler. 

Brookings, Hon. Wilmot W. Brookings, an early settler 
Brown, Hon. Alfred Brown, legislator, 1879. 

Brule (broo'la), a tribe of Sioux Indians. 

Buffalo, for the bison of the prairies. 

Butte (bewt), from the presence of many steep sided hills called buttes 
X £• c B hin C a amPbeU °* Sc0Ua ° a - S D ” *egis.a, S or C , al i e 8 d 73 bUtte3 ' 

Cha“e b s e M!S; Un\ a ted C S b ta“ be ComWilslS STndiai SStaW*- 
Clark, Hon. Newton Clark, legislator, 1873 Aaans, 1853. 

Clay, Henry Clay. 

Codington, Rev. R. B. Codington, legislator, 1877. 

Custer, Gen. G. A. Custer. 

Davison, Henry C. Davison, the first settler in the county. 

Day, Merritt H. Day, a pioneer. 

Deadwood, from the dead and down timber which obstructed placer min¬ 
ing in the gulch in 1875. 

De Smet, Peter De Smet, a Jesuit missionary. 

Deuel (duel'), Hon. Jacob Deuel of Vermillion, Legislator. 

Douglas, Stephen A. Douglas. 

Edmunds, Hon. Newton Edmunds, Governor, 1863-66. 

Elk Point, so named by very early traders. Audubon, 1842, mentions the 
name. 


Eureka, a Greek word, meaning “I have found it.” 

Faulk, Hon. Andrew J. Faulk, Governor, 1866-69. 

Flandreau (flan'drew), Judge Flandrau, St. Paul, Minnesota. 

Grant, Ulysses S. Grant. 

Gregory, Hon. J. S. Gregory, legislator, 1862. 

Groton (gro'ton), a town in Massachusetts, pronounced there, grd'ton. 
Hamlin. Hannibal Hamlin. 

Hand, Hon. Geo. H. Hand, territorial secretary, 1874-83. 

Hanson, Hon. Joseph R. Hanson, clerk of the first legislature. 

Herreid (her're id), Hon. Chas. N. Herreid, Governor, 1901-04. 

Hughes, Hon. Alex. Hughes, legislator, 1873. 

Hutchinson, Hon. John Hutchinson, first territorial secretary, 1861-65. 
Hyde, Hon. James Hyde, legislator, 1873. 

Ipswich, a town in Massachusetts. 

Jerauld (jer aid'), Hon H. A. Jerauld, legislator, 1883. 

Keyapaha (ke'ya pa'ha), Indian word, meaning, “turtle hills.” 
Kingsburg, G. W. and T. A. Kingsbury, brothers, legislators. 

Lawrence, Hon. John Lawrence, legislator, 1875. 

Lead (led), a miner’s term, meaning a lode or the course of a vein. 
Leola. Leola Haynes, daughter of Capt. E. D. Haynes, an early settler. 
Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln. 

Lyman, Hon. W. P. Lyman, legislator and first settler in the county. 
McCook, Hon. Edwin S. McCook, secretary of territory, 1872-3. 
McPherson, Gen. J. B. McPherson. 


132 


SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, by reason of similarity in lakes and topog¬ 
raphy. 

Marshall, named by county commissioners for Marshall Vincent, then a 
member of the board. 

Meade (med), Gen. Geo. G. Meade. 

Milbank, Jeremiah Milbank, New York, a director of the C.» M. & St. P. Ry. 
Miller, Henry Miller, an early settler. 

Miner, Capt. Nelson Miner and Hon. Ephraim Miner, legislators. 
Minnehaha, an Indian word, meaning “laughing water.” 

Mitchell, Alexander Mitchell, President of C., M. & St. P. Ry. 

Moody, Hon. Gideon C. Moody, U. S. Senator, 1889-91. 

Moreau (mor'row), a French word, meaning “extremely well,” the name 
of a trader whose post was at the mouth of the river in 1832. 
Parker, Kimball Parker, civil engineer locating the railway through the 
place. 

Pennington, Hon. John L. Pennington, Governor, 1874-78. 

Pierre (pir), Pierre Chouteau, who built Ft. Pierre in 1832. 

Plankinton, William Plankinton, Milwaukee. 

Platte (plat), from Platte river, corrupted from Pratte, a St. Louis 
trader, Bernard Pratte. 

Pollock, R. W. Pollock, a pioneer of Campbell county. 

Roberts, S. G. Roberts, Fargo, N. D. 

Salem, a Hebrew word, meaning “peace,” named for a town in Mass. 
Sanborn, Supt, Geo. W. Sanborn of the C., M. & St. P. Ry. 

Sioux (soo), as in Sioux Falls, see footnote in chapter I. 

Sisseton (sls'e ton), a tribe of Sioux Indians. 

Spink, Hon. S. L. Spink, delegate to Congress, 1869-71. 

Stanley, Gen. Daniel S. Stanley, commanding Ft. Sully. 

Sturgis (sthr'gis), Gen. Sturgis. 

Sully, Alfred Sully of the United States army. 

Tripp, Hon. Bartlett Tripp, Yankton, S. D., Chief Justice territorial 
supreme court, 1885-89 ; Minister to Austria-Hungary, etc. 

Turner, Hon. J. W. Turner, legislator. 

Vermillion, river is so named from outcrops of red earth along its banks, 
and because early explorers thought it led up to the pipestone quarries. 
Walworth, for a county of that name In Wisconsin. 

Watertown, a town of New Y T ork, by settlers from that place. 

Webster, John P. Webster, an early settler. 

Wessington, a teamster of that name in Col. Noble’s party who discovered 
the springs. 

Woonsocket, an Indian word, meaning “at the place of mist.” 

Yankton, corruption cf Ehanktonwan, the name of a tribe of Indians. 


TERRITORIAL GOVERNORS. 


William Jayne.1861-63 

Newton Edmunds .1863-66 

Andrew J. Faulk.1866-69 

John A. Burbank.1869-74 

John J. Pennington.1874-78 


W T illiam A. Howard.. 
Nehemiah G. Ordway. 
Gilbert A. Pierce.... 

Louis K. Church. 

Arthur C. Mellette... 


..1878-80 

..1880-84 
. .1884-87 
. .1887-89 

..1889 


DELEGATES TO CONGRESS. 


J. B. S. Todd.1862-64 

W. A. Burleigh.1864-69 

S. L. Spink.1869-71 

M. K. Armstrong.1871-75 

J. P. Kidder.1875-79 


G. G. Bennett... 
R. F. Pettigrew.. 
J. B. Raymond... 
Oscar S. Gifford.. 
Geo. A. Mathews 


1879-81 

1881-83 

1883-85 

1885-88 

1888-89 


NOTE—Geo. A. Mathews was elected delegate to congress in November 
1888, his term to commence March 4, 1889. Congress did not convene 
until December following. Before that time statehood had been accom¬ 
plished, and he was therefore never sworn in. 


Arthur C. Mellette. 
Charles H. Sheldon 
Andrew E. Lee. . . . 
Charles N. Herreid. 


STATE GOVERNORS. 

1889-1893 Samuel H. Elrod 

1893-1897 Coe I, Crawford 

1897-1901 Robert S. Vessey 

1901-1905 Frank M. Byrne 

Peter Norbeck . 


1905-1907 

1907-1909 

1909-1913 

1913-1917 

1917- 






























APPENDIX 


133 


REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS. 


O. S. Gifford.1S89-1S91 

J. R. Gamble (a).1891- 

J. L, Jolley.1891-1893 

W. V. Lucas.1893-1895 

R. J. Gamble.1895-1897 

Freeman Knowles .1897-1899 

R. J. Gamble.1899-1901 

E. W. Martin.1901-1907 

W. II. Parker (b).1907-1908 

E. W. Martin.1908-1915 

H. L. Gandy.1915- 


J. A. Pickier.1889-1897 


J. E. Kelly.1897-1899 

C. II. Burke.1899-1907 

Philo Hall .1907-1909 

C. H. Burke.1909-1915 

Royal C. Johnson.1915- 

C. II. Dillon.1913- 


(a) Died in the summer of 1891. J. L. Jolley was elected at a special 
election in November, 1891. (b) Died in the summer of 1908. E. 
W. Martin was elected at a special election in November, 1908. 


UNITED STATES SENATORS. 

G. C. Moody.1889-1891 R. F. Pettigrew.1889-1901 

J. H. Kyle (a).1891-1901 

A. B. Ivittredge.1901-1909 R. J. Gamble.1901-1913 

Coe I. Crawford.1909-1915 Thomas Sterling.1913- 

E. S. Johnson.1915- 

(a) Died in the summer of 1901. A. B. Kittredge was appointed to 
fill the vacancy and later elected by the legislature. 


JUDGES OF THE SUFREME COURT. 

Dighton Corson .1889-1913 Charles S. Whiting..1910- 

Alphonso G. Ivellam.1889-1896 James H. McCoy.1910- 

John E. Bennett.1889-1894 Ellison G. Smith.1910- 

Dick Haney .1899-1913 John H. Gates.1913- 

H. G. Fuller.1904-1909 Samuel G. Polley.1913- 


SOUTH DAKOTA PRODUCTS, 1916 


Wheat, 25,011,000 bushels . 

Corn, 90,800,000 bushels. 

Oats, 55,236.000 bushels. 

Barley, 18,728,000 bushels. 

Flaxseed, 1,600,000 bushels. 

Potatoes, 4,986,000 bushels. 

Vegetables and fruits. 

Hay, 3,400,000 tons. 

Dairy products. 

Poultry and products. 

T,i vpstnpk ... 

.$ 36,515,000 

. 67,192,000 

. 23,751,000 

. 16,855,000 

. 4,160,000 

. 5,986,000 

. 2,450,000 

. 18,700,000 

. 10,000,000 

. 10,000,000 

. 63,113,000 

Minprnls . 

. 8,000,000 

Total productions 1916 . 

.$267,222,000 


SCHOOL STATISTICS, 1916 


Number _of schoolhouses. . . 

Number of teachers. 

Number of pupils (census) 
Number of pupils enrolled. 


City and Town Rural 
287 5,011 

1,683 5,374 

. 54,325 122,742 

, 45,294 88,842 
























































134 


SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


POPULATION. 

South Dakota 582,765 in 1915; 583,888 in 1910; 455,185 in 1905; 401,570 
in 1900 ; 330,975* in 1895 ; 328,808* in 1890. 

Portion of Dakota territory now included in state of South Dakota 
262,560* in 1885; 98,268* in 1880; 11,776* in 1870; 2,402* in 1861. 


County. 

County Seat. 

Area. 

Armstrong . . . 



Aurora . 

. Plankinton . 

. . 719 

Beadle . 

. Huron .'.. 

. .1,250 

Bennett . 

. Martiu . 

. .1,291 

Bon Homme .. 

. Tyndall . 

. . 573 

Brookings ... . 

. Brookings . 

. . 791 

Brown . 

. Aberdeen . 

. .1,750 

Brule .. 

. Chamberlain 

. . 837 

Buffalo . 

.Gann Valley. 

, . . 479 

Butte . 

. Belle Fourche . . 

. .2,289 

Campbell . . . . 

. Mound City . . . . 

. . 774 

Charles Mix .. 

. Wheeler .. 

, . .1,134 

Clark . 

. Clark . 


fUny . 

. Vermillion . 

. . 403 

Cod'ington .... 

. Watertown . 

, . . 701 

Corson . 

. McIntosh . 

, . .2,526 

Custer . 

. Custer City . . . . 

. .1,573 

Davison . 

. Mitchell . 

. . . 432 

Day . 

. Webster . 

. . 1,061 

Deuel . 

. Clear Lake . 

, . . 632 

Dewey . 

. Timber Lake . . . 

, . . 1,907 

Douglas . 

. Armour .. 

. . . 435 

Edmunds. 

. Ipswich . 

, . .1,158 

Fall River . . .. 

. Hot Springs . . . . 

. . .1,756 

Kanlk . 

. Faulkton . 

. . 1,018 

Grant . 

. Milbank .. 

. . . 691 

Gregory .. 

. Fairfax . 

. . .1,032 

Haakon . 

. Philip .. 

. . .1.830 

Hamlin . 

. Hayti . 

....520 

Hand . 

. Miller . 

, . .1,426 

Hanson . 

. Alexandria . . . . , 

. . . 432 

Harding . 

. Buffalo .. 

. . .2,682 

Hughes . 

. Pierre. 


Hutchinson .. . 

. Olivet .. 

. . . 817 

Hyde . 

. Highmore . 

. . . 866 

Jackson . 

. Kadoka . 

. . . 809 

Jerauld . 

. Wessington Springs 531 

Kingsbury .... 

,. Desmet. 


Eak** ........ 

. Madison . 

. . . 562 

Lawrence .... 

. Deadwood . 

. . . 797 

T,in™ln. 

. Canton . 

. . . 574 

Lyman . 

. Oacoma . 

. . .2,625 

McCook . 

.. Salem. 


McPherson .. , 

. . Leola . 

. . .1,157 

Marshall . 

, . Britton . 


Meade . 

, . Sturgis . 


Mellette . 

. . White River. ... 

. . .1,228 

Miner . 

,. Howard . 


Minnehaha . .. 

. .Sioux Falls .... 

. .. 815 

Moody . 

, . Flandreau . 

. . . 527 

Pennington .., 

. . Rapid City .... 

. . .2,792 

Perkins .. 

. . Bison . 


Pine Ridge 



Reservation. 



Potter . 

. . Gettysburg .... 

. . . 898 

Roberts . 

. . Sisseton . 

. . .1.102 

Sanborn .... 

. . Woonsocket . . . 

. . . 676 


Organ- Population, 

ized. 1900. 1910. 1915. 


. . . . 8 

1882 4,011 
1880 8,081 

1912 . 

1862 10,379 

1871 12,561 

1880 15,286 

1875 5,401 

1871 1,790 

1883 2,907 

1883 4,527 

1879 8,498 

1880 6,942 

1862 9,316 

1878 8,770 

1909 . 

1877 2,728 

1873 7,483 

1881 12,254 

1878 6,656 

1910 . 

1882 5.012 

1883 4,916 

1883 3,541 

1883 3,547 

1878 9.103 

1898 2,211 

1915 . 

1878 5,945 

1882 4,525 

1871 4,947 

1909 . 

1880 3,684 

1871 11,897 

1884 1,492 

1915 . 

1883 2,798 

1879 9,866 

1873 9.137 

1877 17,897 

1867 12,161 

1893 2,632 

1878 8,689 

1883 6,327 

1885 5,942 

1889 4,907 

.1911 . 

1880 5,854 

1868 23,926 

1873 8,326 

1877 5,610 

1909 . 

.... 6,827 

1883 2,988 

1883 12,216 

1883 4,464 


647 231 

6,143 6,736 

15,776 16,061 

. 1,488 

11,061 11,560 

14,178 15,544 

25,867 25,969 

6,451 6,376 

1.589 1,485 

4,993 5,894 

5,244 4,888 

14,899 14,790 

10,901 10,670 

8,711 9,214 

14,092 15,192 

2,929 3,272 

4,458 3,452 

11,625 13,005 

14,372 14,235 

7,768 8,529 

1,145 1,933 

6,400 6,639 

7,654 6,845 

7,763 6,027 

6,716 5,265 

10,303 10,474 

13,061 11,919 

. 3,553 

7,475 7,791 

7,870 7,286 

6,237 6,316 

4,228 4,821 

6,271 5,055 

12,319 13,095 

3,307 2,685 

2,077 
5,120 5.275 

12,560 11,947 

10.711 11,865 

19,694 17,710 

12.712 13,564 

10,848 7,412 

9.589 10,013 

6,791 6.831 

8,021 8,328 

12,640 8,724 

1,700 3,427 

7,661 '8,007 

29,631 37,613 

8,695 9,686 

12,453 10,040 

11,348 7,641 

6,630 6,315 

4,466 3,648 

14,897 15,660 

6,607 7,377 


* Before 1900 Indians and half-breeds were not included, 





















































































































APPENDIX 


135 


County. County Seat. 

Shannon . 

Spink .Redfield . 

Stanley ... Fort Pierre .. 

Sully .Onida . 

Todd . 

Tripp .Winner . 

Turner .Parker . 

Union .Elkpoint . 

Walworth .Selby . 

tWashabaugh. 

fWashington . 

Yankton .Yankton . 

Ziebach .Dupree . 



Organ- 

Population 


Area. 

ized. 

1900. 

1910. 

1915. 

. . . 964 





. . .1,511 

1879 

9,487 

15,981 

14,977 

. . .1,517 

1889 

1,341 

14,975 

2,251 

. . . 1,058 

1883 

1,715 

2,462 

2,004 

. . . 1.279 


2,403 

10,262 

. . .1,629 

1909 


8,323 

. . . 617 

1871 

13,175 

13,840 

14,636 

. . . 452 

1862 

11.153 

10,676 

11,436 

... 742 

1883 

3,839 

6,488 

5,919 

. . .1.146 


. . . 1,157 





.. . 523 
. . .1.872 

1862 

1911 

12,649 

13,135 

14,851 

2,571 


POPULATION OF CITIES, TOWNS, AND VILLAGES.t 


City, Town, or Village. 

Aberdeen city . 

Akaska town . 

Albee village. 

Aicester village. 


Altamont 

Andover 

Ardmore 


Ashton 
Aurora 
Avon c 
Baltic 


Beresford 


Blunt 


Bonesteel 


Brandt 


Bristol 

Britton 


Bruce 

Bryant 

Buffalo 

Buffalo 

Burke 


Gap 


Canistota 


County. 

1915. 

1910. 

1905. 

1900. 

1890. 

Brown . . . 

. .11,846 

10,753 

5,841 

4,087 

3,182 

Walworth . . 

76 

114 




Grant . 

140 

131 

89 



Union . 

477 

409 

366 

381 


Hanson . . . . 

. 936 

955 

938 

680 


Jerauld . 

394 

417 

341 

153 


Deuel . 

103 

110 




Day . 

349 

446 

307 

225 

232 

Fall River. . . 

140 

146 

28 



Kingsbury .. 

. 884 

791 

788 

314 

270 

Douglas. 

. 953 

968 

1,125 

912 

482 

Campbell v ... 

159 


42 



Sanborn . . . . 

. 586 

583 

444 

339 

256 

Spink . 

326 

430 

331 

274 

359 

Brookings . . 

277 

236 

213 


..... 

Bon Homme . 

525 

451 

360 



Minnehaha . . 

. 306 

278 




Kingsbury . . 

139 

136 

.... 

.... 

.... 

Butte . 

. 1,101 

1,352 

1,023 

451 


1 Lincoln .. . 

l 1,332 

1,117 

1,192 

1,046 


{ Union .... 

i 


• 



.Grant ...... 

. 652 

551 

532 

590 

471 

pp|’kin<j 

381 





Hughes . 

. 277 

566 

214 

246 

353 

Meade . 

. . 128 

• • • • 

• • • • 

• • • • 

• • • • 

Gregory . .. . 

532 

563 

754 



Edmunds . . . 

. 538 

671 

481 

622 


PI rk 

333 

351 

337 




224 

158 

132 



Spink . 

100 



• . • . 

.... 

McCook . . . . 

. . 971 

934 

822 

691 

410 

. Day . 

, . 457 

444 

488 

282 

199 

Marshall . . . , 

. . 907 

901 

804 

519 

514 

. Beadle . . . . 

114 

• • • • 

• • • • 

• • • • 

.... 

Brookings . . 

. . 3,416 

2,971 

3,265 

2,346 

1,518 

Brookings . . 

328 

262 

191 



Hamlin . . . . 

687 

645 

750 

405 

172 

. Harding . . . 

. . 229* 





Pn c: "for 

137 

280 




. Gregory . . . 

. . 421 

311 




. Brookings . 

146 

.... 

.... 

.... 

.... 

. Day . 

149 

162 

.... 

.... 

.... 

. Harding . . . 

133 

120 




. McCook . . . 

. . 511 

409 

365 




* Includes population of township in which the village is located, 
t Included in Pine Ridge Reservation. 

$ The federal census classifies some towns as villages. 

































































































































































136 


SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


City, Town, or Village, 

, County. 

1915. 

1910. 

1905. 

1900. 

1890. 

Canova village. 

. Miner . 

318 

311 

233 

169 


Canton city. 

. Lincoln . 

2,316 

2,103 

2,279 

1,943 

1,101 

Carter . 

. Tripp . 

103 

.... 

.... 

. . , . 

.... 

Carthage village. 

. Miner . 

555 

554 

370 

265 

200 

CastleWood town. 

. Hamlin . 

537 

594 

611 

430 


Cavonr town. 

. Beadle . 

192 

207 

145 

98 


Centerville city. 

. Turner . 

1,109 

971 

922 

871 

723 

Central City town. . . 

Lawrence . .. . 

262 

296 

684 



Chamberlain city.... 

. Brule . 

1,055 

1,275 

1,007 

874 

939 

Chancellor village... 

. Turner. 

228 

160 

131 



Chelsea* . 

. Faulk . 

86 

.... 

.... 

.... 

.... 

Clair* . 

. Roberts . 

122 

.... 

.... 

.... 

. . . . 

Claremont village.... 

. Brown . 

279 

294 

144 

120 

121 

Clark city. 

. Clark . 

1,200 

1,220 

985 

684 

592 

Clear Lake city. 

. Deuel . 

801 

704 

630 

491 

147 

Colman village. 

• Moody .. 

399 

362 

366 

213 


Colome . 

• Tripp . 

415 

.... 

, . . . 

.... 

. . . . 

C<">ltnn town. 

. Alin n eh all a . . . 

522 

407 




Columbia city. 

. Brown . 

250 

235 

142 

143 

400 

Condp city.. 

. Spink . 

483 

592 

282 

195 


Corsicn town.. 

. Don cl as . 

301 

286 



Cottonwood* . 

• JaclTson . 

120 


• • • . 

.... 

Cresbard town. 

. Faulk . 

238 

320 

..... 

..... 

..... 

Crocker . 

. Clark . 

86 

.... 

.... 

.... 

.... 

Custer City. 

Custer . 

416* 

602 

596 

599 

790 

Pallas city. 

. Gregory .... 

751 

1,277 




Dante . . 

■ Charles Mix. . 

113 




Davis village. 

. Turner . 

244 

ioi 

200 

loi 


Deadw r ood city. 

. Lawrence .... 

3,113 

3,653 

4,364 

3,498 

2,366 

Dell Rapids city. 

Alinnehaha . . . 

1,538 

1,367 

1,339 

1,255 

993 

Delmont town. .. 

■ Douglas . 

494 

369 

400 



DeStnet city. 

• Kingsbury . . . 

1,014 

1,063 

985 

749 

541 

Doland city. 

Spink . 

515 

581 

350 

235 

216 

Dolton . 

• Turner . 

133 

147 




Draper town. 

Lyman . 

120 

211 




Dupree . 

Ziebach . 

108 

.... 

.... 

.... 

.... 

Eagle Butte. 

Dewey. 

78 





East Sioux Falls city. 

Minnehaha .. . 

.t 

268 

229 

232 

577 

Edgemont city. 

Fall River.... 

743 

816 

490 

479 


Effington town. 

Roberts. 

248* 

46 

33 

36 


Egan village. 

Aloody. 

605 

516 

540 

503 

399 

Elk Point city. 

Union . 

1,546 

1,200 

1,282 

1,081 


Elkton village. 

Brookings .... 

768 

742 

532 

578 

331 

Emery village. 

Hanson . 

545 

446 

415 

247 


Englewood village . ... 

Lawrence .... 

78 


91 



Erwdn town. 

Kingsbury . . . 

232 

230 

178 

131 


Estelline town. 

Hamlin . 

575 

509 

471 

357 

210 

Ethan town. 

Davison 

308 

312 

260 



Eureka city. 

AlcPherson . . . 

968 

961 

693 

961 

552 

Fairfax town. 

Orecorv 

391 

500 

386 



Fairview town. 

Lincoln . 

151 

107 

97 



Faith .. • • • 

Aleade . 

232 





Faulkton city. 

Faulk . 

458 

802 

655 

539 

462 

Flandreau city. 

Aloody . 

1,688 

1,484 

1,455 

1,244 

569 

Florence town. 

Codington . , , 

216 

270 




Fort Meade. 

ATeade . 

365 

162 



Fort Pierre city. 

Stanley . 

673 

792 

505 

395 

360 

Frankfort city. 

Spink . 

428 

408 

313 

198 

186 

Frederick village. 

Brown . 

402 

433 

304 

251 

281 

Freeman towm. 

Hutchinson . . 

725 

615 

601 

525 


Fulton* . 

Hanson . 

234 





Galena town . 

Lawrence .... 

59 

109 

129 



Gann Valley village. . . 

Buffalo . 



66 



Garden City..... 

Clark . 

254 

304 




Garretson city. 

Minnehaha . . . 

819 

668 

640 

500 

34i 


* Includes population of township in which the village is located, 
t Census for 1915 included in city of Sioux Falls. 



































































































































































APPENDIX 137 


City, Town, or Village. 

County. 

1915. 

1910. 

1905. 

1900. 

1890. 

Gary town. 

. Deuel . 

. 591 

477 

502 

345 

277 

Gayville town. 

. Yankton . 

320 

257 

291 



Geddes city. 

. Charles Mix. . 

664 

701 

616 



Gettysburg city. 

. Potter . 

751 

936 




Glenham town".. 

. Walworth ... 

139 

182 




Goodwin town. 

. Deuel . 

126 

145 

132 



Gregory city. 

. Gregory . 

919 

1,142 



Groton" city".. 

. Brown" .. 

. 1,028 

1,108 

1.064 

700 

684 

Harrisburg town. 

. Lincoln . 

185 

164 

145 



Harrold village. 

. Hughes . 

173 

230 

57 


Hartford village. 

. Minnehaha . . , 

703 

648 

586 

423 


Havti . 

. Hamlin . 

256 





Hazel town . 

. Hamlin . 

249 

229 

210 



Hecla village. 

. Brown .. 

474 

462 

271 

160 


Henry village. 

. Codington . . . 

. 435 

441 

358 

191 

194 

Hermosa town. 

. Custer .. 

77 

114 


77 

172 

Herreid town. 

. Campbell . . . . 

391 

414 

224 



Herrick town. 

. Gregory . . . . . 

445 

412 

206 



Hetland village. 

. Kingsbury . . , 

245 

223 

241 

162 


Highmore city. 

. Hyde . 

700 

1,084 

507 

376 

435 

Hitchcock town. 

'. Beadle . 

. 261 

259 

196 

135 


Hosmer village. 

. Edmunds ... 

301 

217 

163 



Hot Springs City. 

. Fall River ... 

. 2,132 

2,140 

2,006 

1,3:19 

1,423 

Hoven town. 

. Potter . 

180 

209 




Howard city. 

. Miner . 

. 1,169 

1,026 

705 

588 


Hudson town . 

. Lincoln . 

435 

404 

439 

400 

202 

Humboldt . 

.Minnehaha .. 

. 450 

.... 

• • 



Hurley city. 

. Turner .. 

. 531 

506 

474 

44 1 

344 

Huron city . 

. Beadle . 

. 6,012 

5,791 

3,783 

2,793 

3,038 

Ipswich city. ......... 

. Edmunds . . . 

. 702 

810 

396 

397 

539 


fClay . 1 






Irene village . 

. -< Turner . . 

Y 394 

263 

364 

229 



[.Yankton . . ) 






Iroquois town . 

( Beadle .... } 
' \ Kingsbury 

j* 530 

578 

411 

276 

183 

Tcnhpl . 

• Dewey . 

162 





Java town . 

• Walworth 

410 

473 

277 



Jefferson village . 

• Union . 

501 

407 

412 

364 

229 

Kadoka town . 

Jackson . 

254 

222 




Kennebec town . 

• Lyman .. 

202 

252 


. ... f 


Kimball city . 

. Brule .. 

787 

713 

462 

453 

593 

Lake Andes town . 

• Charles Mix., 

. 566 

920 

401 



Lake Norden town... 

• Hamlin . 

268 

202 




Lake Preston city.... 

• Kingsbury . . 

862 

1,007 

930 

706 

337 

T ,qtip vil 1 a£?e . 


278 

294 




Langford village . 

• Marshall . . . . 

426 

463 

349 

239 

198 

Lantry . 

• Dewey . 

208 

• • • • 

. . . . 

. . . . 

. . . . 

Lead city . 


. 8,128 

8,392 

8,052 

6,210 

2,581 

Lemmon city . 

• Perkins . 

943 

1.255 




Lennox city . 

• Lincoln . 

901 

745 

744 

591 

363 

T.orUn fnwn . 

• MePhprson . , 

501 

484 




Lesterville village.... 

• Yankton . 

301 

279 

255 

244 


Letcher village . 

• Sanborn . 

411 

402 

329 

130 


Lily village . 

• Dav . 

149 

175 

157 

. 

. 

Lowry town . 

. Walworth .. . . 

171* 

90 




McIntosh tnwn . 

. Corson . 

428 

409 




McLaughlin . 

. Corson . 

253 





Madison city . 

. Lake . 

3,949 

3,137 

2,914 

2,550 

1,736 

Marion village . 

. Turner . 

614 

462 

455 

338 


Mellette city . 


453 

474 

402 

354 

241 

Menno town . 

. Hutchinson . . 

760 

621 

581* 

556 

413 

Midland town . 

. Haakon . 

207 

210 




Milbank city . 

. Grant . 

1,940 

2,015 

1.718 

1,426 

1.207 

Miller citv . 

. Hand . 

956 

1,202 

702 

544 

536 

Mission Hill .. 

. Yankton . 

166 

.... 

. , . , 

.... 

.... 

Mitchell city . 

. Davison . 

7,785 

6,515 

5,719 

4,055 

2,217 


* Includes population of township in which the village is located. 























































































































































































138 


SOUTH DAKOTA, A REPUBLIC OF FRIENDS 


City, Town, or Village. 

Mobridge town.. 

Monroe village. 

Montrose town.. 

Morristown town 


Mount Vernon city. 
Murdo city.. 


New 


Nortbville city. 


Oelrichs 
Oldham 
Olivet t 


Parker city. 
Parkston cit^ 
Peever villaj 
Philip city.. 
Pierpont vil 
Pierre city. , 
Plankinton c 
Platte city. . 
Pollock towi 
Presho city. 
Pukwana to 
Ramona tow 
Rapid City. , 


Raymond 
Red Owl 
Redfield 
Revillo v 
Rockham 
Roscoe v 


city. 


Roswell village.... 
St. Lawrence town. 

Salem city. 

Scotland city. 


Sherman 


Sioux Falls city. . . 

Sisseton city. 

South Shore town. 


Spearfish < 
Spencer ten 
Springfield 
Stickney t< 
Strandburg 
Sturgis cit 


city. 


Summit town.... 

Tabor town. 

Tea town. 

Terryville village 
Timber Lake. . . . 
Tolstoy town.... 
Toronto town... 


County. 

1915. 

1910. 

1905. 

1900. 

1890. 

. Walworth ... 

1,551 

1,200 

208 



Turner 

170 

169 




. McCook . 

552 

442 

471 

375 


Pnrsfm 

127 

222 




. Campbell .... 

288 


99 



. Davison . 

541 

614 

412 

222 

127 

I ,ymn n 

352 

372 




. Marshall .... 

192 


• • • • 

.... 

• • • • 

. Butte . 

272 

• • • • 

• • • • 

• • • • 

• • • • 

. Pennington . . 

119 

134 

• • • • 

.... 

• • • • 

. Butte . 

128 

• • • • 

• • • • 

• • • • 

• • • • 

. Spink . 

282 

392 

304 

243 


. Lake . 

391 

526 

.... 

• • • • 

• • • • 

T.ymnn 

103 

235 




. Fall River . . . 

100 

150 

253 



. Kingsbury . . . 

362 

355 

393 

222 


. Hutchinson . . 

163 

133 

161 

156 

105 

Sullv 

251 

319 




Rohprt^ 

301 

259 

137 



. Turner • . 

1,324 

1,224 

1,227 

893 

728 

. Hutchinson . . 

1,132 

970 

862 

596 

262 

Knhprtsj 

301 

259 

137 



. Haakon . 

404 

578 




. Day . 

320 

314 

308 



. Hughes . 

3,010 

3,656 

2,794 

2,306 

3,235 

. Aurora . 

916 

712 

606 

465 

604 

. Charles Mix . . 

939 

1.115 

700 



. Campbell .... 

238 

304 

195 



. Lyman . 

355 

635 




. Brule . 

182 

164 

126 



. Lake . 

324 

312 

299 

172 


. Pennington .. . 

4,268 

3,851 

1,797 

1,342 

2,128 

.Charles Mix.. 

96 

81 

• • • • 

.... 

• • • • 

Clark . 

241 

241 




. Meade . 

80 


. 

.... 

.... 


3,122 

3,060 

1,591 

1.015 

796 

. Grant . 

293 

332 

254 

187 


Faulk . 

283 

286 




. Edmunds . . . . 

320 

357 

134 

92 

111 

. Roberts . 

154 

• • • • 

• • • • 

.... 

.... 

. Miner . 

150 

167 

94 

50 


. Hand . 

253 

305 

149 

115 

320 

. McCook . 

1,132 

1,097 

810 

741 

429 

. Bon Homme . . 

1,249 

1.102 

1,120 

964 

1,083 

. Walworth . . . . 

646 

558 

349 



. Faulk . 

182 

321 




. Minnehaha . . . 

211 

138 

; . 

• • • • • 

. . . . 

. Brookings . . . 

145 

• • • • 

• • • • 

.... 

.... 

. Minnehaha 

20,929 

14.094 

12,283 

10,266 

10.177 

. Roberts . 

1,386 

1,397 

1,375 

928 


. Codington . . . 

331 

335 

270 



. Minnehaha . . . 

171 

132 

103 

114 


. Lawrence . .. . 

921 

1,130 

1,158 

1,166 

678 

. McCook . 

572 

506 

393 

332 


.Bon Homme.. 

695 

675 

717 

525 

302 

. Aurora . 

312 

310 




. Grant . 

117 

• • • • 

.... 

.... 


. Meade . 

1,029 

1,739 

1,329 

1,100 

668 

. Meade . 

63 

.... 



... 

. Roberts . 

536 

545 

373 

237 


. Bon Homme . . 

441 

273 

301 



. Lincoln . 

177 

134 




Lawrence . . .. 

491 





. Dewey . 

238 





. Potter . 

148” 

‘ 142 




. Deuel . 

438 

424 

411 

447 

148 

. Moody . 

274 

• • • • 

.... 

• . • • 

• • • • 


* Includes population of township in which the village is located. 

























































































































































































APPENDIX 139 


City, Town, or Village 

. County. 

1915. 

1910. 

1905. 

1900. 

1890. 

Tripp town. 

Hutchinson ... 

• 903 

675 

496 

366 

226 

Turton town. 

Spink . 

263 

240 



Twin Brooks Village. .. 

.Grant . 

177 

190 

175 



Tyndall city. 

Bon Homme. . 

. 1,302 

1,107 

1,171 

1,167 

509 

Utica town.. 

Yankton . 

133 

103 

73 


Valley Springs city. . . . 

Minnehaha ... 

. 373 

331 

362 

388 

308 

Veblen village. 

Verdon town. 

Marshall. 

Brown . 

, 340 

89 

173 

136 

146 

121 



Vermilion city. 

Clay . 

, 2,376 

2,187 

2,147 

2,183 

1,496 

Viborg city. 

Turner . 

484 

410 

329 

222 

Vienna town. 

Clark .. 

458 

453 

371 

171 


Vilas village. 

. Miner .. 

141 

156 


Vivian .. 

. Lyman .. 

. 258* 





Volga city. 

. Brookings . . . 

. 616 

568 

552 

396 

298 

Volin town. 

. Yankton . . . . 

. 333 

286 

245 



Wagner city. 

. Chajles Mix. 

. 906 

964 

513 



Wakonda village. 

. Clay . 

. 403 

326 

246 

220 


Wall town. 

.Pennington .. 

128 

167 




Wallace town. 

. Codington . . 

. 218 

207 




Ward village. 

. Moody . 

102 

72 

74 



Watertown city. 

. Codington . . 

. 8,313 

7,010 

5,164 

3,352 

2,672 

Waubay village. 

. Day . 

879 

80.3. 

540 

430 

Webster city. 

. Day. 

. 1,640 

1,713 

1,918 

1,506 

618 

Wentworth town. 

. Lake . 

. 350 

329 

296 

181 


Wessington town.... 

. Beadle. 

. 526 

576 




Wessington Springs city. Jerauld. 

. 1,142 

1,093 

722 

320 


White village. 

. Brookings . . 

. 581 

468 

479 

454 

137 

White Bake city. 

. Aurora . 

. 504 

507 

366 

264 

366 

White Rock town.... 

. Roberts. 

. 384 

368 

337 

170 


Whitewood town. 

. Lawrence . . . 

. 295 

390 

352 

311 

443 

Willow Lakes Town. . . . 

Clark . 

. 398 

437 

298 

210 

240 

Wilmot city. 

. Roberts. 

. 520 

427 

391 

352 


Winfred town. 

. Lake . 

. 301 

243 

228 



Winner . 

. Tripp . 

. 923 

• • • • 

• • • • 

• • • • 

• • • • 

Wnlsey town . 

. Ren die . 

439 

436 

182 

122 


Woonsocket city. 

. Sanborn .... 

. 1,201 

1.027 

929 

648 

687 

Worthing village. 

. Lincoln . 

191 

179 

220 

213 

3,670 

Yankton city. 

. Yankton .... 

. 4,771 

3,787 

4,189 

4,125 


* Includes population of township in which the village is located. 






























































































































< • 


* 





* 




% 










♦ 
















« 
































































































INDEX 


Aberdeen. 84, 100 

103, 120, 121, 122, 126, 128, 133 

Adams, John. 10 

Academy. 110 

Accessions of lands from In¬ 
dians .60,66,94,97 

Agates. 107 

Agricultural college (see 
State college). 


Alfalfa. 106 

Allbright, Samuel. 62 

Allen, James M. 64, 65 

All Saints’ School. 110 

Alps. 23 

American Fur Company.... 47 

Amidon, Judge. 72 

Andes .. 23 

Anticyclones. 122 

Area of state. 17 

Arickaras (see Rees). 

Armour. 131 

Armstrong, Moses K. 69,132 

Artesian wells. 109 

Ash Hollow, battle of. 58 

Ashley, Edward. 52 

Ashley, W. H. 48 

Assay office, U. S.. .. 114 

Astoria. 46 

Astor, John J. 46 

Audubon, John James. 53 

Augustana college. 110 

Aurora county. 131 

Australian ballot. 98 

Automobiles . 109 


B 

Badlands.20, 22, 53, 117,118 

Bad river (see Teton river). 

Ballot. 9S 

Bank deposits. 106 

Barley.106,127 

Battle Mountain. 112 

Beadle, W. H. H.76, 85,131 

Belding, J. P. 86 

Belle Fourche, city.115, 131 

river ... 20,119 

Bennett, G. G. 132 

Benteen, Captain. 82 

Beresford. 131 

Big Foot. 95,96 

Big Sioux river.19, 60, 63 

Big Stone Lake. 19 

Big White. 42, 43 

Bismarck ..81, 86, 87, 88 

141 


PAGES 

Black Buffalo.40, 42, 43 

Blackburn, William. 73 

Black Hills. 18, 22 

46, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 107 

Black Hills War. 78 

Black Moon. 81, 82 

Blind, school for. Ill 

Blizzards.123, 124 

Bonds, North Carolina.100, 101 

Bonesteel. 131 

Bon Homme. 67, 70 

Boom, Dakota. 84,93 

Bois des Sioux river. 19 

Boundaries of state. 19, 90 

Bowdle.128,131 

Boyles, Judge. 76 

Bramble, Downer. 67 

Brick. 108 

Bridal Veil Falls. 115 

Britton . 131 

Brookings, city. 

84, 87, 110, 120, 121, 128,131 

Wilmot W.62, 64, 131 

Brown county. 131 

Brown, Samuel J. 74 

Brule county.... 131 

Buchanan, James. 69 

Buffalo, N. Y. 126 

grass .107,117 

Building stone. 107 

Burbank, J. A. 75, 76 

Burke, Charles II.. • • • 133 

Byrne, Frank M.104,132 


C 


Campbell county. 


. 131 

Canton. 


76, 88, 110, 131 

Capital .. 

.70 

, 86, 89, 98, 101 

Capitol. 


. 91, 102 

Gatlin, George. . . 


. 53 

Cattle. 


.. 107 

Cave Hills... 


. 20 

Cement . 


108 

Centerville . 


.126, 128 

Chamberlain . . . . 

.108, 110, 128, 131 

Charger, Martin. 


...... 73 

Charles Mix County. 

_66, 97, 131 

Cheyenne river.. . 


.20, 40, 94, 119 

Chicago. 


, , ,12, 124, 126 

Chippewas ...... 


.. 26 

Chinook winds.. . 


...... 123 

Chouteau, Pierre, Jr. 

...... 52 

Church, Louis K. 


. __90, 132 

Citizenship. 



Civil War. ...... 



Clark county.... 


...... 131 




































































































142 


INDEX 


PAGES 

Clark, William.37,39,44,121 

Clay county. 87,131 

Cleveland, Grover. 90 

Climate.116,122 


Clover 

C., M. & St. P. Ry. (see 
Railroads). 

C. & N.-W. Ry. (see Rail- 


106 


roads). 

Coal. 

. .. . 108 

Codington county. 

. . . . 131 

Colleges of state. 

. . . . 110 

Collins, Mary.. 

.... 52 

Colonial Period. 

. . . . 32 

Columbia Fur Company 

. . . . 47 

Columbus College. 

. . . . 110 

Constitutions. 

. . .88, 89, 90 

Contents. 

. . . . 7 

Copper... 

.... 107 

Corn.. 

106, 127, 132 

palace . 

.... 106 

Cai'son, Dighton. 

.... 132 

Coteaus... 

. . . . 18 

Crawford, Coe I. 

103, 132, 133 

Crazy Horse. 

. . . . 81 

Crook, General. 

.... 82 

Crops . 

. . . .106, 133 

Custer, city. .. 

111, 113, 131 

George A. 

_ 79-82 

Cyclones . 

.... 122 

D 

Dakota . 

.... 5, 6, 10 

Citizens’ League.... 

.... 82 

Democi-at. 

.... 68 

Land Company. 

.... 61 

Meaning of name. .. 

_ 5, 9 

river . 

.... 70 


territory.. 56, 57, 60, 69, 70, 72, 88 

Wesleyan University.... 110 

wonderland. 112 

Dakotaian, the. 68 

Dairying.107, 127 

Davison county. 131 

Day county. 131 

Deadwood.81,114,131 

Deaf, school for. Ill 

Declaration of Independence 91 

De Long, H. H. 86 

Dell Rapids...., . 108 

Denver, Colo. 113 

De Smet, city.128, 131 

Father. 52 

Detroit, -Mich. 70, 126 

Deuel county. 131 

Dickson, Robert. 44 

Dillon, C. H. . .. 133 

Disease . 12 

Division and statehood.... 88 

Dorion, Pierre. 39 

Douglas county. .. 131 

Duluth. 126 

E 

Early Indian Inhabitants. . 25 

Edgerton, A. J. 89, 92 

Educational Institutions... 110 


PAGES 

Edmunds, Newton.. .73, 75,131, 132 

Eggs . 108 

Elk Point.. .67, 76, 131 

Elm River. 44 

Elrod, S. II.103, 132 

Enabling Act.. 91 

Erie, Pa. 126 

Eureka, city.... .110, 131 

college. 110 

Evergreens... 112,115 

F 

Famines of Kansas. 105 

Fargo, N. D... . 86 

Farm life. 109 

Faulk, Andrew J. ..... .75, 131, 132 

Faulkton. 128 

Fetterman, Captain. 78 

First permanent settlement. 46 

First school house. .. .*. 68 

Flag . 13-16 

Flandrau, Judge. 61, 64 

Flandreau.61, 63, 110, 126, 128 

Flax.106, 1-33 

Flower, state. 13 

Floyd, Charles. 38 

Forests . 127 

Forsyth, Colonel. 96 

Forts— 

Abercrombie. 74 

Abraham Lincoln. 81 

Atkinson... 50 

Kiowa . 50 

Laramie. 58, 80 

Meade . 128 

Meigs. 45 

Pierre . 47,51,53,58,59 

Randall. 59, 129 

Sisseton. 74, 129 

Snelling . 78 

Sod.. . 64 

Stevenson . 45 

Sully . 128 

Tecumseh . 47, 52 

Teton. 46 

Fort Pierre, city. 26, 30 

shale . 22 

Fossils. 118 

Forty Years’ War. 27 

Foster, James S. 75 

Franklin, Benjamin....... 10 

Freeman, city. 110 

college. 110 

Fremont, John C. 53 

French and Indian War. ... 32 

Frost, Alfred S. 100 

Fuller, Alpheus G. 62 

H. G. 133 

G 

Gall. 81,82 

Gamble, J. R. and R. G. . .. ¥ 133 

Gandy, H. L. 133 

Gardner* Abigail. 63, 64 

John... . . . 49 

Garnets.107,116 

Garreau, Pierre.. 31, 40 















































































































INDEX 


143 


PAGES 

Gary. Ill 

Gas, natural.... 108 

Gass, Patrick... 38 

Gates, John H. 133 

Gems.107,116 

Gifford, Oscar S. . . .80, 92, 132, 133 

Glacier, Dakota. 23 

Glass, Hugh. 49, 50 

Goddard, Captain. 36 

Gold .12, 78-81, 107, 113, 114 

Goodwin, Mrs. 64 

Gordon expedition. 80 

Grand Forks, N. D. 86, 87 

Grand river.20, 40, 42, 45, 119 

Massacre. 48 

Granite .23, 113, 116 

Grant, U. S. 76, 131 

Graphite . 107 

Green Island. 85 

Greenwood .121,131 

Gregory county. 131 

Grey Eyes. 48 

Grey Foot. 63 

Griggsby, Melvin. 100 

Groton. 131 

Gypsum. 107 


H 


Haeken, Father. . .. 
Hagman, Camp. .. . 

Hall, Philo. 

Hamlin county... ^ 

Hancock, John. 

Hancock, Winfield S 
Hand, George H... . 
Haney, Dick....... 

Hanson, Joseph R.. 

Hard Times. 

Harney Peak. 

Harney, W. S. 

Harrison, Benjamin 

Hay. 

Healthfulness. 

Health resort. 


52 

102 

133 

131 

10 

78 

76, 85, 131 
133 

131 

. . 93, 99 

. . 59, 113 
. . 58, 59 

92 

! !l06, 133 
. . 11 , 12 
112 


Henry, Major. 48, 50 

Herman lake. 63 

Hermosa. 128 

Herreid, Charles N.103, 132 

Highmore .121,128 

Himalayas . 23 

Horses.107,109 

Hot Springs.103, 107, 111-113 

Howard, William A. 85,132 

Hughes, Alexander. 86 

Hunt, Walter. 46 

Huron, city. 

84, 86, 89, 110, 121, 122, 124, 128 

college. 11^ 

Hutchinson, John. 131 

Hyde, James..*. 133 


Ice sheet . 

Idaho territory 

Illinois . 

Indian cessions 

tribes . 

schools .... 


.... 23 

, . . . . 56 

. 12 

60, 66, 94, 97 
..... 28 
.... 110 


PAGES 

Indian territory. 54 

Inkpaduta .63, 64, 72, 81 

Insane, hospitals for. 87, 111 

Iowa territory . 55 

Ipswich .128,131 

Iron . 107 

Iron Hawk . 64 

Irving, Washington. 46 

J 

James river.23, 66, 70, 85 

Jamestown, N. D. 87 

Jayne, William. . . .8, 70, 72, 75, 102 

Jefferson, Thomas.10, 33, 37, 41 

Jerauld, H. A. 131 

John Other Day. 64 

Johnson, E. S. 133 

Royal C. 133 


Iv 


Kampeska, lake. 

Kanouse, T. D. 

Kellam, A G. 

Keya Paha river. 

Kicking Bear. 

Kidder, J. P. 

Kimball. 

King, Charles. 

Kingsbury, G. W., and T. A. 

Kiowas . 

Kittredge, A. B. 

Knowles, Freeman ........ 

Kyle, J. H.... .. 


60, 76 
89 
133 


57, 131 
94 

62, 132 
128 
83 
131 
26 
133 
133 
133 


La Frambois, Joseph. 46 

Land grants . 91 

Land of Plenty.2,39,40,105 

Laramie, see Forts 

Laussat. 34 

Law abiding citizenship... 108 

Lawrence, John . 131 

Lead .12, 81, 107, 113,114,131 

Lean Dog . 64 

Lee, A. E..103, 132 

Legislature, first . 70 

Leola . 131 

Le Raye, Charles. 26 

Lewis, Meriweather . . .37, 39, 41-43 

Lignite . 108 

Limestone .107,115, 116 

Lisa, Manuel . 42 

Little Big Horn, battle of. 81 

Little Crow . 72 

Little Missouri . 119 

Little Paul. 64 

Lincoln county . 76 

Live stock .107,133 

Loisel House. 31, 40 

Louisiana Purchase 

32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 43, 54 

Lucas, W. V. 133 

Lutheran Normal . 110 

Lyman, W. P. 131 


Machinery 
Madison . 


M 


. 109 

63, 84,110, 132 





















































































































144 


INDEX 


PAGES 


Make Believe Territory.... 60, 62 

M'andans . 42 

Manganese .............. 107 

Marble . 107 

Marble, Mrs. ........... 63 

Marshall county ......... 97,132 

Martin, Eben W...;...... 133 

Charles D. 67 

Masters, Henry *. 62 

Mathews, G. A.. 86, 132 

McArthur, General . 100 

McCook, Edwin .. 131 

McCoy, J. H........ __ 133 

McKay, William.......... 79 

McKenzie, Alexander...... 86 

McKinley, William . 100 

McPherson county ........ 131 

Meade county... 132 

Meckling .. 67 

Medary . 61 

Mellette, Arthur C. 

89, 90, 98, 99, 103,132 

city . 128 

Messiah War . 93,103 

Mexican Border 102 

Mica .. 107,113 

Michigan . 55,70,126 

Milbank..84, 121, 128, 132 

Miles, Nelson A..... . 94, 97 

Miller . .127,132 

Mills, Major. 83 

Milwaukee, Wis.. 126 

Minerals ...107, 133 

Miner county. 132 

Mines .12,103,107,112,113 

Minneapolis, Minn.124, 128 

Minnehaha county . .. 132 

Minnesota.55, 60, 61, 73 

Minority representation ... 92 

Missouri ... 54, 55 

Mitchell 

84, 86, 101, 102, 106, 110, 122 

Mix, Charles E.... . 66 

Mobridge ... 73 

Montana ’.. 56 

Moody, county .. 97,132 

Gideon C.89,133 

Moisture .124,127 

Moreau river ..20, 119, 132 

Motto .....2,9,10,11,89 

Mound Builders .......... 25 

Myers, C. D... 86 

Mystic . 115 


N 


Naples, Italy . 125 

Napoleon . .. 33, 34 

National sanitarium ...... 112 

Natural gas .. 108 

Nebraska .19, 20, 39, 56, 117 

New Orleans . 33, 34 

New York . 124 

Nicollet, Joseph.. 53 

Niobrara, chalkstone. 108 

river . 57, 80 


Noble, Mrs.. 63 

Norbeck, Peter.104,132 

Normal schools .......91.103, 110 


PAGES 

North Carolina bonds.100, 101 

North Dakota. 19 

Northern Normal and 

Industrial School ....103,110 

O 


Oats . 106,127,133 

Oelrichs . 128 

O’Gorman, Bishop... 30 

O’Harra, C. C.. 118 

Okoboji, lake . 63 

Old Settlers’ Assn... 70 

Omaha Indians . 26 

Onyx . 107 

Orchards. 116 

Ordway, N. G.85,86,88,132 

Oregon . 41 

Origin of certain names.... 131 

Orleans, territory of..*.... 54 

Other Day, John. 64 

Overland trail .. 58 


P 


Pacific ofcean . 40 

Parker, city . 132 

W. H. 133 

Pasque flower . 13, 14 

Pawnee House . 31, 40 

Pearson, John B. 81 

Penitentiary . 70, 87 

Pennington, John L. 85,132 

Permanency of climate. 129 

Permanent settlement .... 46 

Tettigrew, Richard F.132,133 

Philippines .*.. 100 

Pickier, J. A. 92,133 

Picotte, C. F. 66 

Pierce, G. A. 90,132 

Pierpont . 103 

Pierre city 

20, 79,‘84, 86, 98, 101, 110, 120-2. 

124, 128 

Fort, see Fort Pierre 

Pine Ridge . 95, 97 

Tines .112,116 

Pioneer privations .. 105 

Plainview academy. 110 

Plankinton .111,132 

Plate, Verendrye. 29, 30 

Platte river . 25,132 

Polley, S. G. . 133 

Pollock . 132 

Population.70, 81, 84, 108, 134 

Potatoes .106, 133 

Poultry .108,133 

Precipitation .124-129 

Prohibition .92, 99, 100 

Pryor, Nathaniel ........ 42 


Q 

Quartzite .... 108 

R 


Railroads .........76, 84, 101, 102 

Rainfall ...124-129 














































































































INDEX 


145 


PAGES 

Randall, Fort. 59, 129 

Rapid City 

110, 115, 116, 120-2, 124, 128 

Rapid Creek . 115 

Raymond, J. B. 132 

Red Cloud .78,81,94 

Red Cloud War. 78 

Red Earth . 112 

Redfield, A. H. 67 

C1 67, 84, 86, 102, 104, 110, 124, 128 

College. 110 

Red river. 54, 60 

Red Thunder . 44 

Red Valley .107, 116 

Rees_25, 26, 27, 40, 42, 48, 49, 50 

Reno, Major . 82 

Representatives, list of.... 133 

Republican, the. 68 

Republic of friends. 5, 6, 9 

Riggs, Alfred D. 51 

Steven R. 51 

Roberts county . 97,132 

Robinson, Doane .. 14,30 

Rockies . 23, 38 

Rocky Mountain Fur Co. . . 48 

Rye . 106 

S 

Sakakawea (Sacajawea)... 40 

Salem . 132 

Sanborn county. 132 

Sandstone .107,115,116 

School, first house. 68 

for feebleminded. Ill 

of mines . 91, 110 

Scott, Milo . 86 

Seal . 2, 10 

Seasons . 21 

Shale .,...22,115,116 

Shannon, George. 39 

Sheep. 107 

Sheldon, Charles II.103,132 

Sheridan, General. 79 

Shetak lake, massacre at. . 73 

Short Bull . 93 

Sioux City, Iowa.76, 78, 79, 84 

Sioux Falls, 

city .61, 62, 66, 70, 72, 88, 

89, 108, 110, 111, 121, 126, 128 

college . 110 

quartzite . 108 

Sioux Indians .26-28 

Sisseton, city . 128 

Indians .28,60,65,97 

Sitting Bull . 94, 95 

Slate .113,115,116 

Slim Buttes, battle of. 82 

Smith, Ellison G. 133 

(Jedediah) . 49 

Smutty Bear . 64 

Sod, Fort. 64 

Soldiers’ Home. Ill 

Song, South Dakota.2,52,116 

Sounding Heavens. 63 

Spanish War .100, 103 

Sparks, E. E. 36 

Spaulding, B. F. 86 


PAGES 

Spearfish, canvon . 114 

city .110, 115, 120, 121, 128 

river . 15 

Spink county . 132 

Spirit lake, massacre at. .. . 63 

Spirit Mound . 38 

Spodumene . 107 

Springfield .103,110,131 

Spruce. 116 

Standing Rock Reservation 103 

Stanley county . 132 

State, college .87,110 

university . 110 

St. Paul, Minn. .61, 120-2, 129, 130 

Stei-ling, Thomas. 133 

Sturgis . 132 

Struck-by-the-Ree .39, 67, 73 

Sully county. 132 

Sunshine state. 11, 13 

Surface features . 17 

Sylvan lake. 113 


T 


Tallent, Annie D. 80 

Taylor, W. W.. 99 

Telegraph .. 76 

Temperatures .121-129 

Terry, General . 79, 81 

Teton, Indians. 28 

river .. 46, 52,119 

Thatcher, Mrs. 63 

Thompson, M. D. 86 

Tin. 107 

Todd, J. B. S.59, 66, 69, 75, 86 

Tornado . 123 

Travelers, famous . 53 

Traverse, lake . 19, 60 

Treaties, Indian.60, 63, 66, 78, 80, 83 

Tripp, Bartlett. 89 

Trudeau House . 31,40 

True, C. H. 76 

Tungsten . 107 

Turner, J. W. 132 


U 

Under God the People Rule.2, 9, 92 
University .70, 86, 91,110 


V 


Valle, John. 


Vegetables . 


Vermillion, city. . . . 

67, 68, 76. 85, 87 

river . 

. 38. 132 

Vessey, Robert S... 

.103, 132 

W 


Wahpeton Indians 

. 28,60 

Wales, Bovd . 

. 102 

Walworth county . . 

. 132 

Wamdesapa . 


Waneta . 

. 44, 45 

Ward, academy . . . 

. 110 

Joseph .. 


Watertown . 


Wealth . 

. .12, 13, 105, 106 

Weather Bureau . . . 













































































































146 


INDEX 


PAGES 

Webster. 84 

Wells, artesian . 109 

Wessington Springs, city. . .110,132 

seminary. 110 

Wheat .106, 133 

White Lodge. 73 

White river .20,94,119 

Whitewood canyon . 114 

Whiting, Charles S. .•. 133 

Williamson, Thomas. 51 

John P. 52 

Wind, cave. 113 

velocity . 122-4 

Winter, a long. 84 

Wisconsin . 55 

Woonsocket . 132 


PAGES 

Wounded Knee, battle of... 95 

Wyoming .. 56, 117 

Y 

Yankton, city . 67-70 

72,73. 76, 77, 84-89, 100, 102, 108, 
110. Ill, 122, 124-6, 128, 129, 130 

college .77,110 

Indians .27,28,97 

Yanktonais . 65 

Yellow Bird . 96 

Z 

Ziebach, Frank M.. 72 

































































* 




















9 

















































' 










/ 











f 























































































